If you are planning on moving to Alaska, you should be educated and aware of changes you will need to make to your lifestyle. One such likely change will be your cell phone service plan, since many Alaskan cell phone providers are unfortunately behind the times when compared to most of the country. Many wireless network customers currently experience delays when they are using their phone for multimedia purposes. Thankfully, new, more convenient options are now arising for residents currently relocating to the state.

Recent Developments

Earlier this month, General Communication, Inc., or GCI, launched 4G service in the Anchorage region of Alaska. This allows GCI wireless subscribers to have access to the fastest network statewide for their information and entertainment needs. With this technology, Alaskans are able to use the Internet, stream videos and more at suitable speeds that are more than ten times faster than other present network speeds. By the end of the year, GCI plans to launch 4G service in several locations in Alaska. Many other regions will at least be updated to 3G speeds. To participate in the network, residents need a 4G compatible phone, as well as GCI’s new SIM card and an appropriate data plan.

Cell Phone Provider Options

The cell phone provider you choose when moving to Alaska may very much depend on the region you will call home. The largest cell phone provider in the state is Alaska Communications System or ACS. Their coverage applies to residents who are moving to locations such as Juneau, Prudhoe Bay, Fairbanks and other centralized regions. Other benefits of ACS include landline telephone service and high-speed Internet. Also included in the plan are unlimited mobile to mobile calls, along with free nights and weekend calling.

Another major provider is Alaska Digitel, which covers many of the same regions as ACS. However, only cellular phone service is offered. As a positive tradeoff, plans are more inexpensive and offer more monthly minutes. However, unlimited mobile to mobile calls are not offered, nor are free nights and weekend calls. However, in-state long distance is permitted. The third option is Alaska Wireless, LLC. This location only offers service to the Dutch Harbor area, with expensive plans and a low number of monthly minutes. For a small fee, customers may roam on other providers’ networks both in Alaska and nationwide.

Limitations of Carriers and Coverage

Potential Alaska residents should also be aware that not every carrier offers every phone. The four biggest carriers statewide are Sprint Nextel, Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile. Check their websites for coverage maps that will show if your preferred provider and phone matches the area in which you will live. There are also independent sites that track customer complaints about areas with unreliable cellular coverage.

Customers should also take advantage of the fact that most carriers will offer a trial period for the phone you choose. This will allow you to evaluate the reception you receive at home, in the office and during travel. Be fully aware of the company’s trial period and return policies before signing a contract, as terms can be stringent.

Be aware that when purchasing a data plan, you have the option of paying for messaging and data use separately. If you won’t be moving much data, you could save money, though you may be charged a higher rate. Some carriers bundle voice and data plans as one, though others will allow you to separate the two. Many carriers will describe their plan as unlimited, though it is wise to read the fine print of how they define that term.

Other Options

For those that would rather not sign a contract with any of the major service providers in Alaska, there is also the option of a prepaid phone. Prepaid phones have often received a negative reception, due to the fact that they have been seen as a last resort for those without the best credit ratings. However, those who are tired of two-year contracts, issues over use of minutes and overage fees may find this to be the right choice after they make the move. Not to mention that prepaid costs are now lower than ever before. When a customer runs out of minutes, they may either pay for more or let the plan expire if they wish to switch carriers or cancel service

Welcome to Fairbanks—the great Alaskan community where nearly 100,000 residents can, on any given day, step out their front doors and into a thousand paintings and postcards.

Beyond the Chena River to the south you can see mountains—the Alaska Range’s epic peaks standing tall within the legendary Denali National Park.  To the north, the mighty Yukon River snakes by the White Mountains, sandwiching Fairbanks in a wilderness unparalleled elsewhere in the United States.

Despite the fact that the year’s snowpack is established by mid-October and the nighttime lows can reach negative-25 degrees in winter, there is no shortage of ways to get your blood boiling out in The Last Frontier.

• Hiking and backpacking – Just 150 miles away is Denali National Park, home to Mt. McKinley (also called “Denali”), North America’s highest peak at 20,237 feet. In ancient history, the park was home to mammoths, which feasted on what were predominately grasslands. Now, tundra has taken over, the mammoths are buried, and humans climb and slide around the enormous glacial playground best reached by air taxis. Forget a walk on the beach—this is real adventure. Campers can also whet their appetite in the numerous public parks that surround Fairbanks, including the Chena River State Recreation Area and Tanana Valley State Forest.

• Stargazing and bird watching – The aurora borealis, or the northern lights, can be seen as many as 200 nights a year around Fairbanks. Pack some coffee, moose jerky, and a comfortable chair and find a spot in one of the many public parks around Fairbanks to relax and enjoy one of nature’s most colorful dreams. Or, grab your binoculars and head to Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge to catch some graceful gliders and winged wanderers. The new Sandhill Crane Festival takes place the final weekend in August.

• The Yukon Quest – Billed as the “toughest race in the world,” the 1000-mile sled dog race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon, pits competitors against the world’s most extreme elements—and each other.

Fairbanks is also home to many unique attractions and festivals that you simply won’t find in other regions around the world, much less the rest of the country.

• The Golden Days Festival – For five days each year, the city’s biggest festival includes The Golden Days Parade, Can-Can shows, a half-marathon, a rubber ducky race, a traditional gold dredge, street fair and variety shows. Oh, and everyone gets dressed in Wild West gear or Victorian-era clothing.

• The El Dorado Gold Mine – The 110-year-old historical point-of-interest offers several tours a day from May to September. Visitors will see firsthand why so many gold miners traveled by steamboat to the Great White North in the early 20^th century.

• The Riverboat Discovery – Speaking of steamboats, here’s another May through September attraction. Visitors and locals alike can hop aboard real sternwheelers and cruise the waters around Fairbanks. Take a ride and see what it was like to be Captain E.T. Barnette—the man who founded Fairbanks in 1901 after his steamboat ran aground and he set up an outpost at the behest of local prospectors. But don’t worry; steamboats have come a long way in the past 110 years.

If you haven’t satisfied your appetite for adventure already, check out the competitive and recreational sporting leagues the locals have established to round out the hours of the day.

• Cross-country skiing – The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks is highly active in hosting races and other events, such as the annual Sonot Kkaazoot 50k and 20k cross-country ski race, skiathalons, junior championships and multiple other series and individual races.

• Roller derby – The Fairbanks Rollergirls (“Derby with a heart of COLD”) is a nonprofit amateur sports team owned and operated by the girls themselves. Strap on your skates and pads and let loose—right after you pick the kids up from ski practice.

Fairbanks also provides families the opportunity to learn about The Last Frontier while having a great time. The Pioneer Air Museum and Fairbanks Ice Museum, hot air balloon rides, recreation centers and parks are just a few fun things to do. Also think about ice fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, sledding, the list goes on. Get in touch with your inner child and play in the biggest playground you’ve ever seen.

So, If you’re looking for a place where you can experience year-round adventures on glaciers and mountains, Fairbanks is that place.

Or maybe you want a calm spot to build a snowman with your kids before lounging in front of the fireplace. Still, Fairbanks is calling your name.

Whatever brings you The Golden Heart City, you’re sure to find two things: a city with gold at its heart, and a city with a heart of gold.

Moving to Alaska?  We have all heard about moving horror stories… “You found a moving company online, you gave a deposit, and come moving day, your so called “trusted moving company” sent you a bill for twice the amount they originally quoted.”  Well, good news!!  Times are changing.  Federal and state authorities are working diligently to crack down on online scam artists who pose as licensed movers.  These online brokers are notorious for ripping off consumers by substantially increasing prices, providing fake estimates and holding consumers’ belongings hostage.

In the past year alone, states including California, New Jersey, and Illinois, have conducted various undercover operations to expose these unlicensed brokers and their unfair business practices.  It is businesses like these that continue to hurt the professional moving industry, as consumers continue to lose faith in professional movers and are thus seeking alternatives.

As a professional Alaskan moving company, we care about you and want to make sure that you are not taken advantage of during the moving process.  This being said, here are a few things to keep in mind when you are shopping around online for a professional moving company.

• Important:  Make sure you are comparing “apples to apples” when obtaining rates (i.e. lower rates may look good on the surface, but they will most certainly have hidden fees, offer ½ the service, and/or offer no consumer protection in the event of lost or damaged items)
• Beware the internet broker who buys cheap, sells cheap, and QUOTES BY THE CUBE.  Real movers like Royal Alaskan Movers, Mayflower, United, etc. tend to quote by the pound and follow federal regulations for consumer protection.  Internet brokers have no rules, are not regulated like real movers, and you will not be protected in the event of lost or damaged items. 

Whether you are moving to Anchorage, moving to Fairbanks, moving to Juneau, or moving elsewhere to the mainland or internationally, you want to ensure that every aspect of your move is handled both safely, securely, and by a professional moving company.  If you have any questions whatsoever about the moving process, please do not hesitate to contact Royal Alaskan Movers directly.  We would be more than happy to assist in any way that we can.