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FAIRBANKS - Communications company GCI recently contributed a $30 million broadband gift to the University of Alaska system.

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton said the gift is essential to the university's mission of education, research and public service. He said the university had requested the money from the Alaska Legislature for several years to increase its broadband capacity, but didn't receive the support it needed.

The broadband gift provides up to 10 gigabits-per-second from Anchorage to Seattle.

It will not only benefit the university but will help Alaska schools through a network that is part of the state's multi-partner Distance Education Consortium.