Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

On September 1, 2015, the United States will fully complete its broadcast transition to digital TV. What effect will this have on Wrangell? Sadly nothing.

As a community, Wrangell was once served by a free television broadcast service known as ARCS (Alaska Rural Communication Service). For some unexplained reason, this service was shut down in Wrangell approximately 10 years ago. ARCS is largely funded through the State of Alaska, with communities picking up the minimal last mile of costs for powering and maintaining the transmitter.

Regrettably, this Borough’s government has shown only indifference to getting ARCS back on the air. Not only does this mean Wrangell is missing out on the free over-the-air television provided by ARCS, but we will also be forfeiting the digital transmission infrastructure that is being freely made available by the State of Alaska.

The excuses being offered from the Wrangell Borough: 1) There aren’t enough funds to pay for the transmitter (mayor David Jack stating “no matter how little the costs”). 2) ARCS would only benefit a few people.

A reality check is in order here. The annual operating costs for ARCS is estimated to be the equivalent of operating just one city street light (estimated costs for ARCS is $644 annually). To put it another way, the cost would be just 16% of what this Borough allots for its 4th of July fireworks display. Perhaps a few minutes less of having that money go up in smoke would be better spent on getting ARCS back on the air year-round.

For so little cost, Wrangellites could potentially be saving thousands in expenses associated with paid television providers (cable, satellite). Based on $35 dollars per month for basic cable television service, a Wrangell household could save over $420 dollars annually with the free service ARCS provides. At that savings, the benefits of having ARCS back on the air is self-evident to serving more than just a “few people.”

Wrangellites pay one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation, and it would be nice to see actually something of more value for it. There are over 235 Alaska communities served by ARCS (including Petersburg) and on September 1, 2015, their free over-the-air broadcasts will continue while Wrangell continues to sit in broadcast darkness.

Is this really the best Wrangell can do?

Marc Horner