Arctic Broadband Connectivity and the Creative Economy: Access, Challenges and Opportunities in Nunavut and Alaska

This chapter explores digital creative entrepreneurship as it is impacted by data connectivity and communication infrastructure in remote communities of the North American Arctic. In addition to summarizing details related to access, data speeds and bandwidth in specific regions of the North, this chapter looks at values-based Arctic digital entrepreneurial curricular development, collaborative possibilities between Nunavut and Alaska, and cites opportunities and challenges for the Arctic’s Indigenous creative economy. Similarities and differences between the United States and Canadian Arctic in terms of opportunity and networking based on the digital connectivity and the cost of access are also explored. The chapter offers specific examples related to opportunities and barriers for Arctic small business development given variances in digital access. The chapter concludes with a number of important policy recommendations for government and industry.