This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.
Erika Bolstad
Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.
Sean Cockerham
Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com
Kyle Hopkins
Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com
At one point the races with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young promised to be the highest-profile campaigns in Alaska history.
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The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.
PHOTOS
Photographer Marc Lester is blogging on Sarah Palin and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis this week.
The third debate - 10/15/2008 7:03 pm
Palin in New Hampshire: 'We all love good moose hunting.' - 10/15/2008 3:11 pm
Colberg disputes Branchflower finding - 10/15/2008 12:58 pm
Update: The Wasilla Library and "Heather Has Two Mommies" - 10/15/2008 12:38 pm
Judge says Palin and staff don't have to stop using private e-mail - 10/15/2008 12:28 pm
Testing, one-two-three - 10/15/2008 10:13 am
Increase in Alaska voter registration - 10/14/2008 8:01 pm
Stevens & Begich battle on the airwaves (UPDATED) - 10/14/2008 5:57 pm
McBride resigns as Palin's advisor on rural affairs (Updated) - 10/13/2008 7:13 pm
No more Voice of the Times? - 10/13/2008 12:40 pm
Monegan on 'Today' - 10/13/2008 7:23 am
Government wants Stevens wife's e-mails; defense calls it "fishing expedition." - 10/12/2008 12:24 pm
Sunday reading (Updated) - 10/12/2008 11:12 am
Palin on Obama and abortion - 'It is not negative and it's not mean-spirited to talk about his record' - 10/12/2008 10:58 am
Palin drops puck - 10/11/2008 6:02 pm
Palin: 'Very much appreciating being cleared of any legal wrongdoing or unethical activity at all' (Updated with audio) - 10/11/2008 4:28 pm
Palin denies she abused power (Updated with Todd no-comment in N.H.) - 10/11/2008 8:28 am
State lawmakers talk Troopergate - 10/10/2008 9:57 pm
Lyda Green talks about the report - 10/10/2008 7:54 pm
Palins' lawyer responds - 10/10/2008 7:35 pm
Governor's office / McCain-Palin campaign responds (UPDATED with video) - 10/10/2008 5:59 pm
The Branchflower report - 10/10/2008 4:20 pm
Posted: July 23, 2008 - 2:00 pm
(White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is among the lawmakers with President Bush today as he signed a bill into law requiring internet telephone providers to offer emergency 911 service. President Bush is joined by from left, Stevens, Sen. Olympia Snow, R-Maine, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. and Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss.
July 24, 2008 - 1:07pm | rfn
that this federal legislation pertains only to Alaska. Is it not applicable throughout the rest of the country? I can see that as effectively putting several internet phone providers out of business but hardly cell companies as cell phone services require, by their very nature, facilities at each of their "towers" (or poles, etc.). True, it might require some upgrade at each but not anything huge. Before you reply, consider I have maintained cell sites through two generations of equipment.
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July 24, 2008 - 4:49pm | Emperor
As far as I am aware this only applies to Alaska.
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July 24, 2008 - 5:04pm | rfn
to apply selectively to only one state.
On the other hand if the internet providers had already taken care of 911 service in the other states but were neglecting Alaska.... In that case a law that had already been complied with elsewhere would force equal coverage here. So, yes, in that case the only real effect would be in Alaska.
I would think that OK provided a lot of people in Alaska really don't want the protection of 911 coverage. That's not impossible; we do have a lot of rugged individualists left!
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July 25, 2008 - 2:36am | Sheridan_Sheraton
When you undercut Ted's net neutrality donors and world coms with fly by night free internet calls, you're messin' with the Corp.
This is just a way to pester the competition. But need it or not why not have 911 hooked to the series of tubes? Pizza hut is.
At least if you typed and sent an emergengy murder notice out they might send out a crew a few days after your boss was curious about where you were.
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4 July 24, 2008 - 12:08am | brdzwrd
Trading liberty for security is futile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3SVbURWaU8
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3 July 23, 2008 - 6:34pm | jonathanskt
Nelson (D-FL)
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2 July 23, 2008 - 6:04pm | chilcoot
Another unfunded federal mandate telling private industry what to do! Go conservative Republicans! Yay Bush, Stevens, Snowe, Martin, Shimkus, and Pickering! Way to not be total hypocrites!
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July 23, 2008 - 7:02pm | zippy_pinhead
It's not like it's a law requiring automakers to offer all cars in purple with pink racing stripes.
Though I do think simply requiring the companies to clearly disclose that you can't call 911 thru their systems would have been plenty adequate.
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July 23, 2008 - 7:58pm | chilcoot
Makes sense to me.
But not the some of the unprincipled politicians who helped enact it, including some pictured here.
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1 July 23, 2008 - 5:04pm | jmewalker
Bill Nelson is a Democrat, last time I checked....
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5 July 24, 2008 - 1:01pm | Emperor
Who is being paid off...
...to keep Vonage from being able to offer Anchorage phone numbers? Or for that matter, many of the outside Cell providers are unable to enter the market here.
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