Keeping Connected

Arcticom helps companies, first responders, and more stay in touch under challenging conditions

By Nancy Erickson

n today’s world, technology is what keeps our world spinning. Arcticom LLC is doing its part keeping Alaska’s communication lines open.

Headquartered in Anchorage, Arcticom was established in 2004 as a supplier of high-end radio communications sales and service in the Alaska region. The following year, the company invested in MOTOTRBO area-wide communication infrastructure, providing private two-way radio service to the Anchorage Bowl and Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Acquired by Bering Straits Native Corporation, or BSNC, in 2013 as an active subsidiary, Arcticom continues to supply communications and information technology, or IT, support to federal, state, and local governments and commercial clients.

Based in Nome, BSNC was formed in 1972 as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act’s regional Alaska Native Corporation for the Bering Strait region, encompassing most of the Seward Peninsula and coastal lands of eastern Norton Sound.

Bruce Hellenga joined the BSNC team in 2008 and is currently Arcticom’s general manager.

“Arcticom is the Alaska industry leader in information technology and communications,” says Hellenga. “Two-way radio communications is the platform Arcticom was founded on. Through our technical staff, led by engineer Joey Acosta—who is also one of the founders of Arcticom—we are able to engineer solutions for pretty much any communications and IT problem.”

He adds, “We are the Motorola Federal Manufacturers representative for the State of Alaska and provide support to all federal entities, including the US Department of Defense.”

Through a contract with another BSNC subsidiary—Bering Straits Information Technology—Arcticom helps support the Alaska Land Mobile Radio, or ALMR, system operations and maintenance, the backbone network for Alaska’s first responders.

ALMR is a cooperative effort between Alaska and the US Department of Defense that provides the main communications system used by emergency responders and public safety entities. ALMR consists of eighty-two dedicated wireless radio communication sites along the state’s highways, ferry routes, and remote mountain tops.

An Arcticom crew works on upgrades at an Alaska Land Mobile Radio remote site near Valdez as a subcontractor for Motorola.

“Arcticom has provided ALMR with P25 radio and satellite equipment to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, NOAA, enforcement officers and provided ALMR code plug expertise to develop over thirty ALMR Talkgroups,” says Lieutenant Robert Marvelle, Supervisory Enforcement Officer with NOAA in Juneau.

“The time and energy spent in working with us to get our mobile and portable radios tuned and programmed will in turn help our firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue members conduct operations with good communications,” says Valdez Fire Department Captain Josh Larsen. “This helps us to serve our community better.”

Arcticom also provides remote communication solutions for areas off the state road system and out of reach of ALMR.

“Arcticom uses its Iridium Push-to-Talk system and remote repeater networks to provide service to far-reaching, underserved communities, including State of Alaska’s oil and mining industry clients,” Hellenga adds.

“Arcticom provides Doyon Drilling with all parts of the puzzle right the first time, by not having to return equipment because radios were not programmed correctly,” says Ron White, Doyon Drilling’s company’s operations manager.

Maintaining those remote sites can often be a challenge.

“Our biggest challenge is working with partners and manufacturers who don’t understand the challenges of working in Alaska with the weather and geographical hardships we see every day,” Hellenga explains. “What would be a short commute in the Lower 48 often requires a long commute followed by a helicopter or plane ride to a remote site.”

Motorola and Arcticom crews check out upgrades to the Alaska Land Mobile Radio Willow Mountain site in Valdez that included tower loading assessments and antenna and mounting upgrades, among other enhancements.

Not all of Arcticom’s work is at remote sites.

The company provides, installs, and supports in-building communication systems called Distributed Antenna Systems-Bidirectional Amplifiers, a public safety system that helps ensure first responders remain in contact when in such challenging areas as stairwells, underground tunnels, parking garages, and pump rooms. Technicians are also familiar with the Enhanced 911 system that automatically ties a location to the emergency call.

“The technologies we work with are many,” says Hellenga.

Hellenga credits his employees for the company’s success.

“I have surrounded myself with individuals who are the most talented in our industry,” he explains. “Without these individuals, we wouldn’t be talking about Arcticom.”

A member of Associated General Contractors of Alaska since 2016, Hellenga cites a variety of benefits: from daily use of AGC’s Online Plans application and access to the membership directory, allowing partnerships between other locally owned businesses and existing customers, to participating in the annual chili cook-off, conferences, and golf competitions.

“Arcticom is a Native-owned communications company committed to providing cutting-edge wireless technology to increase productivity that exceeds customer expectations, creating opportunities for our customers, partners and the communities we serve in both Alaska and across the United States,” he adds.