Alaska Communications Systems 10-Q 7 May 21 2021 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0001089511
Entity Registrant Name	ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP INC
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38341
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-2126573
Entity Address, Address Line One	600 Telephone Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Anchorage
Entity Address, State or Province	AK
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	99503-6091
City Area Code	907
Local Phone Number	297-3000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ALSK
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		54,273,804

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,114	$ 19,644
Restricted cash	1,326	1,326
Short-term investments	434	434
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,290 and $4,060	40,284	41,893
Materials and supplies	9,093	7,624
Prepayments and other current assets	7,217	6,404
Total current assets	80,468	77,325
Property, plant and equipment	1,457,458	1,452,943
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,070,449)	(1,062,027)
Property, plant and equipment, net	387,009	390,916
Operating lease right of use assets	88,135	89,821
Other assets	11,873	11,370
Total assets	567,485	569,432
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	9,071	9,067
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	51,355	49,700
Operating lease liabilities - current	3,276	3,392
Total current liabilities	63,702	62,159
Long-term obligations, net of current portion	157,630	159,641
Deferred income taxes	6,109	5,846
Operating lease liabilities - noncurrent	79,631	81,103
Other long-term liabilities, net of current portion	93,821	94,764
Total liabilities	400,893	403,513
Commitments and contingencies
Alaska Communications stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 authorized; 55,274 issued and 54,274 outstanding at March 31, 2021; 54,875 issued and 53,875 outstanding at December 31, 2020	553	549
Treasury stock, 1,000 shares at cost	(1,812)	(1,812)
Additional paid in capital	163,038	163,317
Retained earnings	10,048	9,442
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,976)	(6,340)
Total Alaska Communications stockholders' equity	165,851	165,156
Noncontrolling interest	741	763
Total stockholders' equity	166,592	165,919
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 567,485	$ 569,432

Condensed Consolidated Balanc_2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 4,290	$ 4,060
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	145,000	145,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	55,274	54,875
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	54,274	53,875
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	1,000	1,000

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Operating revenues		$ 60,668	$ 58,266
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		27,366	27,114
Selling, general and administrative		18,289	15,394
Transaction and termination costs		923	0
Depreciation and amortization		11,048	9,840
Loss on disposal of assets, net		84	86
Total operating expenses		57,710	52,434
Operating income		2,958	5,832
Other income and (expense):
Interest expense		(2,652)	(2,959)
Interest income		3	75
Other income, net		393	381
Total other income and (expense)		(2,256)	(2,503)
Income before income tax expense		702	3,329
Income tax expense		(118)	(960)
Net income		584	2,369
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(22)	(18)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications		606	2,387
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Minimum pension liability adjustment		65	68
Income tax effect		(18)	(19)
Amortization of defined benefit plan loss	[1],[2]	(26)	(33)
Income tax effect	[2]	7	9
Interest rate swap marked to fair value		(27)	(2,878)
Income tax effect		8	818
Reclassification to interest expense	[3]	496	0
Income tax effect	[3]	(141)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		364	(2,035)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Alaska Communications		970	352
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(22)	(18)
Total other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(22)	(18)
Total comprehensive income		$ 948	$ 334
Net income per share attributable to Alaska Communications:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.04
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic shares (in shares)		54,145	53,186
Diluted (in shares)		54,872	54,237
[1]	Included in “Other income (expense), net” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.
[2]	See Note 13 “Retirement Plans” for additional information regarding the Company’s pension plans.
[3]	See Note 15 “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information regarding the Company’s interest rate swaps.

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning and end of period	$ 173,509	$ 541		$ 161,844	$ 15,367	$ (3,277)	$ 846
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		53,085
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)		476
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		53,561
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	173,509	$ 541		161,844	15,367	(3,277)	846
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		5		(5)
Balance at beginning and end of period	168,861	546	$ (1,812)	161,709	12,902	(5,312)	828
Stock-based compensation				309
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				(439)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	2,387				2,387
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					(4,852)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,035)					(2,035)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(18)						(18)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	168,861	546	(1,812)	161,709	12,902	(5,312)	828
Balance at beginning and end of period	168,861	546	(1,812)	161,709	12,902	(5,312)	828
Balance at beginning and end of period	165,919	$ 549		163,317	9,442	(6,340)	763
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		53,875
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par (in shares)		399
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		54,274
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	165,919	$ 549		163,317	9,442	(6,340)	763
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par		4		(4)
Balance at beginning and end of period	165,919	553	(1,812)	163,038	10,048	(5,976)	741
Stock-based compensation				389
Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation				(664)
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	606				606
Cash dividends declared, $0.09 per common share					0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	364					364
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(22)						(22)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	166,592	553	(1,812)	163,038	10,048	(5,976)	741
Balance at beginning and end of period	$ 166,592	$ 553	$ (1,812)	$ 163,038	$ 10,048	$ (5,976)	$ 741

Condensed Consolidated Statem_3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Common Stock Outstanding [Member]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividend, per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09

Condensed Consolidated Statem_4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 584	$ 2,369
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	11,048	9,840
Loss on disposal of assets, net	84	86
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount	258	350
Amortization of deferred capacity revenue	(1,741)	(1,360)
Stock-based compensation	389	309
Deferred income tax expense	118	954
Charge (credit) for uncollectible accounts	396	(229)
Amortization of right-of-use assets	836	578
Other non-cash income, net	(27)	(33)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	4,765	9,498
Net cash provided by operating activities	16,710	22,362
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(6,902)	(7,463)
Capitalized interest	(161)	(316)
Change in unsettled capital expenditures	(4,248)	(3,759)
Net cash used by investing activities	(11,311)	(11,538)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,265)	(3,240)
Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation	(664)	(439)
Net cash used by financing activities	(2,929)	(3,679)
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	2,470	7,145
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	20,970	27,993
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	23,440	35,138
Supplemental Cash Flow Data:
Interest paid	2,544	2,919
Income taxes refunded	$ (349)	$ 0

Note 1 - Summary of Significant

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” and “Alaska Communications”), a Delaware corporation, through its operating subsidiaries, provides broadband telecommunication and managed information technology (“IT”) services to customers in the State of Alaska and beyond using its statewide and interstate telecommunications network. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and the following wholly-owned subsidiaries. • Alaska Communications Systems Holdings, Inc. ("ACS Holdings") • Crest Communications Corporation • ACS of Alaska, LLC (“ACSAK”) • WCI Cable, Inc. • ACS of the Northland, LLC (“ACSN”) • WCIC Hillsboro, LLC • ACS of Fairbanks, LLC (“ACSF”) • Alaska Northstar Communications, LLC • ACS of Anchorage, LLC (“ACSA”) • WCI LightPoint, LLC • ACS Wireless, Inc. ("ACSW") • WorldNet Communications, Inc. • ACS Long Distance, LLC • Alaska Fiber Star, LLC • Alaska Communications Internet, LLC (“ACSI”) • TekMate, LLC • ACS Messaging, Inc. • ACS Cable Systems, LLC (“ACSC”) In addition to the wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Company has a fifty 17 Joint Venture Merger Agreement On December 31, 2020, 3 3 2 Merger Agreement. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10 10 December 31, 2020. not The Company consolidates the financial results of the AQ-JV based on its determination that, for accounting purposes, it holds a controlling financial interest in the joint venture and is the primary beneficiary of this variable interest entity. The Company has accounted for and reported QHL’s fifty Other than as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, as of the date of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the COVID- 19 not In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for all periods presented. Comprehensive income for the three March 31, 2021, not December 31, 2020 not Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including estimates of operating revenues, probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Effective in 2021, No. 2019 12, Income Taxes (Topic 740 2019 12” 2019 12 740 740. 2019 12 not Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not In June 2016, No. 2016 13, Financial Instruments Credit Losses (Topic 326 2016 13” 2016 13, 2016 13 2023 2016 13

Note 2 - Merger Agreement

Note 2 - Merger Agreement	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	2. MERGER AGREEMENT On December 31, 2020, 8 8 3 3 December 31, 2020, On the terms, and subject to the conditions, of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. As a result of the Merger, each share of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) (other than shares held by (i) the Company (or a wholly-owned subsidiary that is disregarded for tax purposes), Parent or Merger Sub and (ii) stockholders of the Company who have validly exercised and perfected their appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive $3.40 in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Merger Consideration”). Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including, without limitation, (i) approval of the Merger by the Company’s stockholders, (ii) absence of certain legal impediments, (iii) the expiration or termination of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, The status of certain closing conditions to consummation of the Merger is summarized as follows. At a special meeting of stockholders held on March 12, 2021, February 16, 2021 11:59 January 20, 2021. February 12, 2021. February 8, 2021, January 20, 2021. no July 19, 2021. The Merger is currently expected to close in the third 2021, no In the first 2021, 2020

Note 3 - Revenue

Note 3 - Revenue	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]	3. REVENUE Revenue Recognition Policies Revenue Accounted for in Accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ( ASC 606 ) At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services promised to the customer and identifies the performance obligation for each promise to transfer a good or service that is capable of being distinct and is distinct within the context of the contract. The Company considers all performance obligations whether they are explicitly stated in the contract or are implied by customary business practices. Beginning late in the first 2020, 19 not Revenue is not 19 not not not 606. The Company’s broadband and voice revenue includes service, installation and equipment charges. Managed IT revenues include the sale, configuration and installation of equipment and the subsequent provision of ongoing IT services. The Company enters into contracts with its rural health care customers and is subject to various regulatory requirements associated with the provision of these services. Revenues associated with rural health care customers are recognized based on the amount the Company expects to collect as evidenced in its contract with the customer and the Company’s and customer’s agreement with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) as the relevant service is provided. Regulatory access revenue includes (i) special access, which is primarily access to dedicated circuits sold to wholesale customers, substantially all of which is generated from interstate services; and (ii) cellular access, which is the transport of tariffed local network services between switches for cellular companies based on individually negotiated contracts. Regulatory access revenue is recognized as the service is provided to the customer. ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) Revenue Accounted for in Accordance with Other Guidance Deferred revenue capacity liabilities are established for indefeasible rights of use (“IRUs”) on the Company’s network provided to third Disaggregation of Revenue The following tables provide the Company’s revenue disaggregated on the basis of its primary markets, customers, products and services for the three March 31, 2021 2020. Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Accounted for Under ASC 606 Accounted for Under Other Guidance Total Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606 Accounted for Under Other Guidance Total Revenue Business and Wholesale Revenue Business broadband $ 15,681 $ - $ 15,681 $ 15,353 $ - $ 15,353 Business voice and other 6,697 - 6,697 6,857 - 6,857 Managed IT services 1,217 - 1,217 1,227 - 1,227 Equipment sales and installations 2,618 - 2,618 1,414 - 1,414 Wholesale broadband 10,818 - 10,818 10,253 - 10,253 Wholesale voice and other 1,121 - 1,121 1,288 - 1,288 Operating leases and other deferred revenue - 2,819 2,819 - 2,391 2,391 Total Business and Wholesale Revenue 38,152 2,819 40,971 36,392 2,391 38,783 Consumer Revenue Broadband 6,945 - 6,945 6,692 - 6,692 Voice and other 2,230 - 2,230 2,449 - 2,449 Total Consumer Revenue 9,175 - 9,175 9,141 - 9,141 Regulatory Revenue Access (1) 4,926 - 4,926 4,691 - 4,691 Access (2) - 673 673 - 727 727 High-cost support - 4,923 4,923 - 4,924 4,924 Total Regulatory Revenue 4,926 5,596 10,522 4,691 5,651 10,342 Total Revenue $ 52,253 $ 8,415 $ 60,668 $ 50,224 $ 8,042 $ 58,266 ( 1 Includes customer ordered service and special access. ( 2 Includes Essential Network Support (“ENS”). Business broadband revenue includes revenue associated with rural health care customers. Consumer voice and other revenue includes revenue associated with the FCC’s Lifeline program. ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) Timing of Revenue Recognition Revenue accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 three March 31, 2021 2020. Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Services transferred over time $ 44,709 $ 44,119 Goods transferred at a point in time 2,618 1,414 Regulatory access revenue (1) 4,926 4,691 Total revenue $ 52,253 $ 50,224 ( 1 Includes customer ordered service and special access. Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations for contracts with customers that are unsatisfied, or partially unsatisfied, accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 March 31, 2021. twelve one ten not Contract Assets and Liabilities The Company incurs certain incremental costs to obtain contracts that it expects to recover. These costs consist primarily of sales commissions and other directly related incentive compensation payments (reported as contract additions in the table below) which are dependent upon, and paid upon, successfully entering into individual customer contracts. The table below provides a reconciliation of the contract assets associated with contracts with customers accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 three March 31, 2021. not three March 31, 2021. 2021 Balance at January 1 $ 6,568 Contract additions 732 Amortization (862 ) Balance at March 31 $ 6,438 The Company recorded a charge for uncollectible accounts receivable of $396 in the three March 31, 2021 4 Accounts Receivable ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The table below provides a reconciliation of the contract liabilities associated with contracts with customers accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 three March 31, 2021. 2021 Balance at January 1 $ 3,971 Contract additions 1,082 Revenue recognized (505 ) Balance at March 31 $ 4,548

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]	4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 Retail customers $ 27,834 $ 29,815 Wholesale carriers 8,441 8,402 Other 8,299 7,736 44,574 45,953 Less: allowance for doubtful accounts (4,290 ) (4,060 ) Accounts receivable, net $ 40,284 $ 41,893 The following table presents the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three March 31, 2021, 2021 Balance at January 1 $ 4,060 Provision for uncollectible accounts 396 Charged to other accounts - Deductions (166 ) Asset at March 31 $ 4,290 The provision for uncollectible accounts is derived through an analysis of account aging profiles and a review of historical recovery experience. Accounts receivable are charged off against the allowance when management confirms it is probable amounts will not 19 not 19 In January 2021, 2020 July 1, 2020 June 30, 2021) March 2021. March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020, 3, Revenue Recognition In the first 2021, first 19 first 2021, 2020 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

Note 5 - Other Current Assets

Note 5 - Other Current Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Other Current Assets [Text Block]	5. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments and other current assets consist of the following at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 Prepaid expense $ 3,890 $ 2,619 Income tax receivable 3 353 Other 3,324 3,432 Total prepayments and other current assets $ 7,217 $ 6,404

Note 6 - Current Liabilities

Note 6 - Current Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Current [Text Block]	6. CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities consist of the following at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 Accounts payable - trade $ 13,758 $ 18,375 Accrued payroll, benefits, and related liabilities 17,312 14,587 Deferred capacity and other revenue 9,773 8,781 Advance billings 3,622 3,340 Other 6,890 4,617 Total accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities $ 51,355 $ 49,700

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Long-term Debt [Text Block]	7. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS Long-term obligations consist of the following at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 2019 senior secured credit facility due 2024 $ 166,646 $ 168,896 Debt discount (1,384 ) (1,523 ) Debt issuance costs (1,222 ) (1,341 ) Finance leases and other long-term obligations 2,661 2,676 Total long-term obligations 166,701 168,708 Less current portion (9,071 ) (9,067 ) Long-term obligations, net of current portion $ 157,630 $ 159,641 As of March 31, 2021, 2021 (April 1 - December 31) $ 6,802 2022 (January 1 - December 31) 11,333 2023 (January 1 - December 31) 15,851 2024 (January 1 - December 31) 133,018 2025 (January 1 - December 31) 145 Thereafter 2,158 Total maturities of long-term obligations $ 169,307 2019 The Company’s 2019 not not twelve ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) Amounts outstanding under the Initial Term A Facility, Revolving Facility, Delayed-Draw Facility and Incremental Term A Loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.5% per annum. The Company may, 2019 March 31, 2021. Principal payments on the Initial Term A Facility, Delayed-Draw A Facility and any amounts outstanding under the Incremental Term A Loans were due commencing in the third 2019 third 2019 second 2020 third 2020 second 2022 third 2022 second 2023 third 2023 fourth 2023 January 15, 2024. 2019, first 2020. There were no March 31, 2021. The obligations under the 2019 The 2019 The 2019 Under the terms of the 2019 two June 28, 2019, two June 30, 2022.

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liabil

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Noncurrent [Text Block]	8. OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES Other long-term liabilities consist of the following at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 Other deferred IRU capacity revenue, net of current portion $ 49,463 $ 49,739 Deferred GCI capacity revenue, net of current portion 26,454 26,965 Other deferred revenue, net of current portion 5,472 4,837 Other 12,432 13,223 Total other long-term liabilities $ 93,821 $ 94,764 Amortization of deferred revenue included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income was $2,783 and $2,357 in the three March 31, 2021 2020, ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

Note 9 - Leases

Note 9 - Leases	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Operating and Finance Leases [Text Block]	9. LEASES Lease Agreements Under Which the Company is the Lessee The Company enters into agreements for land, land easements, access rights, IRUs, co-located data centers, buildings, equipment, pole attachments and personal property. These assets are utilized in the provision of broadband and telecommunications services to the Company’s customers. Operating leases are included in operating lease right of use assets and current and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment and current portion of long-term obligations and long-term obligations on the consolidated balance sheet. Certain leases include a provision for early termination, typically in return for an agreed amount of consideration. Early terminations recorded in the three March 31, 2021 not The Company entered into additional operating lease commitments that had not March 31, 2021 second 2021 Short-term and variable lease cost recorded during the three March 31, 2021 2020 not The Company did not three March 31, 2021. The following table presents lease costs for agreements under which the Company is the lessee for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 47 $ 47 Interest on lease liabilities 66 67 Operating lease costs 2,264 1,968 Total lease cost $ 2,377 $ 2,082 The following table provides information included on the consolidated balance sheet for agreements under which the Company is the lessee as of March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. 2021 2020 Operating leases: Right of use assets $ 88,135 $ 89,821 Liabilities - current $ 3,276 $ 3,392 Liabilities - noncurrent 79,631 81,103 Total liabilities $ 82,907 $ 84,495 Finance leases: Property, plant and equipment $ 5,800 $ 5,800 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,934 ) (3,887 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 1,866 $ 1,913 Current portion of long-term obligations $ 71 $ 67 Long-term obligations, net of current portion 2,590 2,609 Total finance lease liabilities $ 2,661 $ 2,676 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table provides the maturities of the Company’s lease liabilities as of March 31, 2021. Operating Financing Leases Leases 2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021) $ 5,926 $ 246 2022 7,911 336 2023 7,589 345 2024 7,397 355 2025 7,323 364 Thereafter 157,529 3,108 Total lease payments 193,675 4,754 Less imputed interest (111,747 ) (2,093 ) Total present value of lease obligations 81,928 2,661 Present value of current obligations (2,297 ) (71 ) Present value of long-term obligations $ 79,631 $ 2,590 The following table presents other information about agreements under which the Company is the lessee as of and for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 66 $ 67 Operating cash flows from operating leases 2,106 1,826 Financing cash flows from finance leases 15 12 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities 627 - Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years): Finance leases 12 13 Operating leases 28 29 Weighted-average discount rate: Finance leases 9.8 % 9.8 % Operating leases 6.9 % 6.9 % Lease Agreements Under Which the Company is the Lessor The Company’s agreements under which it is the lessor are primarily associated with the use of its network assets, including IRUs for fiber optic cable, colocation and buildings. Certain leases include a provision for early termination, typically in return for an agreed amount of consideration. Early terminations recorded in the three March 31, 2021 not The Company does not The Company did not March 31, 2021. The underlying assets associated with the Company’s operating leases are accounted for under ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table presents lease income for agreements under which the Company is the lessor for the three March 31, 2021 2020. not 2021 2020 Total lease income $ 1,620 $ 1,171 The following table presents the maturities of future undiscounted lease payments at March 31, 2021 2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021) $ 1,224 2022 917 2023 877 2024 873 2025 836 Thereafter 4,350 Total future undiscounted lease payments $ 9,077

Note 10 - Employee Termination

Note 10 - Employee Termination Benefits	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	10. EMPLOYEE TERMINATION BENEFITS In 2020, one third 2020, third fourth 2020. 712, Compensation - Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits 712” In 2019, June 30, 2019. 712, December 31, 2019, first 2021 2020 2019, second 2021.

Note 11 - Retirement Plans

Note 11 - Retirement Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Retirement Benefits [Text Block]	11. RETIREMENT PLANS Multi-employer Defined Benefit Plan Pension benefits for substantially all of the Company’s Alaska-based employees are provided through the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund (“AEPF”). The Company pays a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation to the AEPF. As a multi-employer defined benefit plan, the accumulated benefits and plan assets are not not Defined Benefit Plan The Company has a separate defined benefit plan that covers certain employees previously employed by Century Telephone Enterprise, Inc. (“CenturyTel Plan”). This plan was transferred to the Company in connection with the acquisition of CenturyTel, Inc.’s Alaska properties, whereby assets and liabilities of the CenturyTel Plan were transferred to the ACS Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) on September 1, 1999. March 31, 2021, not 1974, ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table presents the net periodic pension expense for the ACS Retirement Plan for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Interest cost $ 119 $ 117 Expected return on plan assets (184 ) (185 ) Amortization of loss 39 35 Net periodic pension expense $ (26 ) $ (33 ) Net periodic pension expense is included in the line item “Other income, net” in the Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]	12. STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS Under the Company’s stock incentive plan, stock options, restricted stock, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, performance share units and other awards may not In the first 2021, three one three 2011 On June 10, 2011, 2011 June 30, 2014 June 25, 2018, 2021. 2011 2011 2018, 2019 2020. Restricted Stock Units The Company measures the fair value of RSUs based on the number of shares granted and the quoted closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Expense associated with RSUs is recognized utilizing the graded vesting methodology. ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table summarizes the RSU, long-term incentive plan and non-employee director stock compensation activity for the three March 31, 2021. Weighted Average Grant Date Number Fair of Units Value Nonvested at December 31, 2020 876 $ 2.20 Granted - - Vested (244 ) 1.68 Canceled or expired (3 ) 2.61 Nonvested at March 31, 2021 629 $ 2.40 Performance Stock Units Vesting of a portion of the PSUs issued in the second 2020 three 2020, 2021 2022, March 31, 2021, PSUs granted in the third 2019 three March 2022 March 31, 2021, 2019 first 2021 March 31, 2021, 2019 2020. The following table summarizes the PSU activity for the three March 31, 2021. Weighted Average Grant Date Number Fair of Units Value Nonvested at December 31, 2020 1,174 $ 1.50 Granted - - Vested (356 ) 0.35 Canceled or expired - - Nonvested at March 31, 2021 818 $ 2.00 The following table provides selected information about the Company’s share-based compensation as of and for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Total compensation cost for share-based payments $ 389 $ 309 Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share) $ - $ - Total fair value of shares vested during the period $ 605 $ 1,248 At March 31: Unamortized share-based payments $ 1,589 $ 799 Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense 1.5 1.8 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2012 On June 16, 2020, 2012 2012 December 31, 2030 On July 24, 2020, 2012 Effective December 31, 2020, 2012

Note 13 - Fair Value Measuremen

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Derivatives and Fair Value [Text Block]	13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Fair Value Measurements The Company has developed valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs to calculate the fair value of non-current monetary assets and liabilities. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources and unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two ● Level 1 ● Level 2 not ● Level 3 Financial assets and liabilities are classified within the fair value hierarchy in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may The fair values of cash equivalents, restricted cash, other short-term monetary assets and liabilities and finance leases approximate carrying values due to their nature. The carrying values of the Company’s senior credit facilities and other long-term obligations of $167,923 and $170,049 at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020, 2019 2 The following table presents the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020, March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Other long-term liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ 2,314 $ - $ 2,314 $ - $ 2,784 $ - $ 2,784 $ - Derivative Financial Instruments The Company currently uses interest rate swaps to manage variable interest rate risk. At low LIBOR rates, payments under the swaps increase the Company’s cash interest expense, and at high LIBOR rates, they have the opposite effect. The outstanding amount of the swaps as of a period end are reported on the balance sheet at fair value, represented by the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate the swaps. They are valued using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the contracts and are classified within Level 2 Under the terms of the 2019 two June 28, 2019, two June 30, 2022. 7 Long-Term Obligations 15 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table presents the notional amount, fair value and balance sheet classification of the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges as of March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. Notional Fair Balance Sheet Location Amount Value At March 31 2021: Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities $ 126,563 $ 2,314 At December 31, 2020: Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities $ 128,250 $ 2,784 The following table presents gains and losses before income taxes on the Company’s interest rate swaps designated as a cash flow hedge for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (27 ) $ (2,878 ) Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income (496 ) - The following table presents the effect of cash flow hedge accounting on the Company’s Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Recorded as Interest Expense: Hedged interest payments $ (1,483 ) $ (2,081 ) Loss on interest rate swap (496 ) -

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	14. EARNINGS PER SHARE Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common share equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share assumes no The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three March 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net income attributable to Alaska Communications $ 606 $ 2,387 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic shares 54,145 53,186 Effect of stock-based compensation 727 1,051 Diluted shares 54,872 54,237 Net income per share attributable to Alaska Communications: Basic $ 0.01 $ 0.04 Diluted $ 0.01 $ 0.04 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Com

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]	15. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS The following table summarizes the activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three March 31, 2021. Defined Benefit Pension Interest Plan Rate Swaps Total Balance at December 31, 2020 $ (4,347 ) $ (1,993 ) $ (6,340 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 47 (19 ) 28 Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income (19 ) 355 336 Net other comprehensive income 28 336 364 Balance at March 31, 2021 $ (4,319 ) $ (1,657 ) $ (5,976 ) The following table summarizes the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items: Amortization of loss $ (26 ) $ (33 ) Income tax effect 7 9 After tax (19 ) (24 ) Amortization of gain on interest rate swap: Reclassification to interest expense 496 - Income tax effect (141 ) - After tax 355 - Total reclassifications, net of income tax $ 336 $ (24 ) Amounts reclassified to net income from our defined benefit pension plan and interest rate swaps have been presented within “Other income, net” and “Interest expense,” twelve 13 Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

Note 16 - Stockholders' Equity

Note 16 - Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	16. STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Treasury Stock The Company does not Dividends The Company’s dividend policy is set by the Company’s Board of Directors and is subject to the terms of its credit facilities and the continued current and future performance and liquidity needs of the Company. Dividends on the Company’s common stock are not March 9, 2020 one June 18, 2020 April 20, 2020 second third 2020.

Note 17 - Joint Venture

Note 17 - Joint Venture	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Text Block]	17. JOINT VENTURE The table below provides certain financial information about the AQ-JV included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020. may not not 2021 2020 Cash $ 270 $ 270 Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $531 and $506 $ 1,610 $ 1,635 The operating results and cash flows of the joint venture in the three 2021 2020 not

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flo

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	18. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION Restricted cash of $1,326 at March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the statement of financial position at March 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,114 $ 33,818 Restricted cash 1,326 1,320 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 23,440 $ 35,138 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) The following table presents supplemental non-cash transaction information for the three March 31, 2021 2020. 2021 2020 Supplemental Non-cash Transactions: Capital expenditures incurred but not paid at March 31 $ 1,389 $ 2,215 Dividends payable at March 31 $ 16 $ 4,852 Additions to ARO asset $ 10 $ 70 Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 627 $ -

Note 19 - Business Segments

Note 19 - Business Segments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	19. BUSINESS SEGMENTS The Company operates its business under a single

Note 20 - Commitments and Conti

Note 20 - Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	20. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company enters into purchase commitments with vendors in the ordinary course of business, including minimum purchase agreements. The Company also has long-term purchase contracts with vendors to support the on-going needs of its business. These purchase commitments and contracts have varying terms and in certain cases may In February 2020, 2012 2016 July 2012 June 2017). not The Company is involved in various other claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and establishes an accrual when a specific contingency is probable and estimable. The Company recorded litigation accruals totaling $2,123 at March 31, 2021 not

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10 10 December 31, 2020. not The Company consolidates the financial results of the AQ-JV based on its determination that, for accounting purposes, it holds a controlling financial interest in the joint venture and is the primary beneficiary of this variable interest entity. The Company has accounted for and reported QHL’s fifty Other than as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, as of the date of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the COVID- 19 not In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for all periods presented. Comprehensive income for the three March 31, 2021, not December 31, 2020 not
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including estimates of operating revenues, probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Effective in 2021, No. 2019 12, Income Taxes (Topic 740 2019 12” 2019 12 740 740. 2019 12 not Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not In June 2016, No. 2016 13, Financial Instruments Credit Losses (Topic 326 2016 13” 2016 13, 2016 13 2023 2016 13

Note 3 - Revenue (Tables)

Note 3 - Revenue (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Accounted for Under ASC 606 Accounted for Under Other Guidance Total Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606 Accounted for Under Other Guidance Total Revenue Business and Wholesale Revenue Business broadband $ 15,681 $ - $ 15,681 $ 15,353 $ - $ 15,353 Business voice and other 6,697 - 6,697 6,857 - 6,857 Managed IT services 1,217 - 1,217 1,227 - 1,227 Equipment sales and installations 2,618 - 2,618 1,414 - 1,414 Wholesale broadband 10,818 - 10,818 10,253 - 10,253 Wholesale voice and other 1,121 - 1,121 1,288 - 1,288 Operating leases and other deferred revenue - 2,819 2,819 - 2,391 2,391 Total Business and Wholesale Revenue 38,152 2,819 40,971 36,392 2,391 38,783 Consumer Revenue Broadband 6,945 - 6,945 6,692 - 6,692 Voice and other 2,230 - 2,230 2,449 - 2,449 Total Consumer Revenue 9,175 - 9,175 9,141 - 9,141 Regulatory Revenue Access (1) 4,926 - 4,926 4,691 - 4,691 Access (2) - 673 673 - 727 727 High-cost support - 4,923 4,923 - 4,924 4,924 Total Regulatory Revenue 4,926 5,596 10,522 4,691 5,651 10,342 Total Revenue $ 52,253 $ 8,415 $ 60,668 $ 50,224 $ 8,042 $ 58,266
Revenue Accounted for In Accordance with ASC 606, By Timing of Revenue Recognition [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Services transferred over time $ 44,709 $ 44,119 Goods transferred at a point in time 2,618 1,414 Regulatory access revenue (1) 4,926 4,691 Total revenue $ 52,253 $ 50,224
Contract with Customer, Contract Asset, Contract Liability, and Receivable [Table Text Block]	2021 Balance at January 1 $ 6,568 Contract additions 732 Amortization (862 ) Balance at March 31 $ 6,438 2021 Balance at January 1 $ 3,971 Contract additions 1,082 Revenue recognized (505 ) Balance at March 31 $ 4,548

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable (T

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Retail customers $ 27,834 $ 29,815 Wholesale carriers 8,441 8,402 Other 8,299 7,736 44,574 45,953 Less: allowance for doubtful accounts (4,290 ) (4,060 ) Accounts receivable, net $ 40,284 $ 41,893
Changes in the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Table Text Block]	2021 Balance at January 1 $ 4,060 Provision for uncollectible accounts 396 Charged to other accounts - Deductions (166 ) Asset at March 31 $ 4,290

Note 5 - Other Current Assets (

Note 5 - Other Current Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Other Current Assets [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Prepaid expense $ 3,890 $ 2,619 Income tax receivable 3 353 Other 3,324 3,432 Total prepayments and other current assets $ 7,217 $ 6,404

Note 6 - Current Liabilities (T

Note 6 - Current Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Accounts payable - trade $ 13,758 $ 18,375 Accrued payroll, benefits, and related liabilities 17,312 14,587 Deferred capacity and other revenue 9,773 8,781 Advance billings 3,622 3,340 Other 6,890 4,617 Total accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities $ 51,355 $ 49,700

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 2019 senior secured credit facility due 2024 $ 166,646 $ 168,896 Debt discount (1,384 ) (1,523 ) Debt issuance costs (1,222 ) (1,341 ) Finance leases and other long-term obligations 2,661 2,676 Total long-term obligations 166,701 168,708 Less current portion (9,071 ) (9,067 ) Long-term obligations, net of current portion $ 157,630 $ 159,641
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]	2021 (April 1 - December 31) $ 6,802 2022 (January 1 - December 31) 11,333 2023 (January 1 - December 31) 15,851 2024 (January 1 - December 31) 133,018 2025 (January 1 - December 31) 145 Thereafter 2,158 Total maturities of long-term obligations $ 169,307

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liab_2

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Other deferred IRU capacity revenue, net of current portion $ 49,463 $ 49,739 Deferred GCI capacity revenue, net of current portion 26,454 26,965 Other deferred revenue, net of current portion 5,472 4,837 Other 12,432 13,223 Total other long-term liabilities $ 93,821 $ 94,764

Note 9 - Leases (Tables)

Note 9 - Leases (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Lessee, Operating and Finance Leases, Balance Sheet Information [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 47 $ 47 Interest on lease liabilities 66 67 Operating lease costs 2,264 1,968 Total lease cost $ 2,377 $ 2,082 2021 2020 Operating leases: Right of use assets $ 88,135 $ 89,821 Liabilities - current $ 3,276 $ 3,392 Liabilities - noncurrent 79,631 81,103 Total liabilities $ 82,907 $ 84,495 Finance leases: Property, plant and equipment $ 5,800 $ 5,800 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,934 ) (3,887 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 1,866 $ 1,913 Current portion of long-term obligations $ 71 $ 67 Long-term obligations, net of current portion 2,590 2,609 Total finance lease liabilities $ 2,661 $ 2,676
Lessee, Operating and Finance Leases, Liabilities, Maturity [Table Text Block]	Operating Financing Leases Leases 2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021) $ 5,926 $ 246 2022 7,911 336 2023 7,589 345 2024 7,397 355 2025 7,323 364 Thereafter 157,529 3,108 Total lease payments 193,675 4,754 Less imputed interest (111,747 ) (2,093 ) Total present value of lease obligations 81,928 2,661 Present value of current obligations (2,297 ) (71 ) Present value of long-term obligations $ 79,631 $ 2,590
Lessee, Operating and Finance Leases, Other Information [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 66 $ 67 Operating cash flows from operating leases 2,106 1,826 Financing cash flows from finance leases 15 12 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities 627 - Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years): Finance leases 12 13 Operating leases 28 29 Weighted-average discount rate: Finance leases 9.8 % 9.8 % Operating leases 6.9 % 6.9 %
Operating Lease, Lease Income [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Total lease income $ 1,620 $ 1,171
Lessor, Operating Lease, Payment to be Received, Fiscal Year Maturity [Table Text Block]	2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021) $ 1,224 2022 917 2023 877 2024 873 2025 836 Thereafter 4,350 Total future undiscounted lease payments $ 9,077

Note 11 - Retirement Plans (Tab

Note 11 - Retirement Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Interest cost $ 119 $ 117 Expected return on plan assets (184 ) (185 ) Amortization of loss 39 35 Net periodic pension expense $ (26 ) $ (33 )

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Pla_2

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]	Weighted Average Grant Date Number Fair of Units Value Nonvested at December 31, 2020 876 $ 2.20 Granted - - Vested (244 ) 1.68 Canceled or expired (3 ) 2.61 Nonvested at March 31, 2021 629 $ 2.40
Schedule of Nonvested Performance-based Units Activity [Table Text Block]	Weighted Average Grant Date Number Fair of Units Value Nonvested at December 31, 2020 1,174 $ 1.50 Granted - - Vested (356 ) 0.35 Canceled or expired - - Nonvested at March 31, 2021 818 $ 2.00
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Activity [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Total compensation cost for share-based payments $ 389 $ 309 Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share) $ - $ - Total fair value of shares vested during the period $ 605 $ 1,248 At March 31: Unamortized share-based payments $ 1,589 $ 799 Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense 1.5 1.8

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_2

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Other long-term liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ 2,314 $ - $ 2,314 $ - $ 2,784 $ - $ 2,784 $ -
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location [Table Text Block]	Notional Fair Balance Sheet Location Amount Value At March 31 2021: Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities $ 126,563 $ 2,314 At December 31, 2020: Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities $ 128,250 $ 2,784
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (27 ) $ (2,878 ) Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income (496 ) -
Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Accounting on the Statement of Operations [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Recorded as Interest Expense: Hedged interest payments $ (1,483 ) $ (2,081 ) Loss on interest rate swap (496 ) -

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share (T

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Net income attributable to Alaska Communications $ 606 $ 2,387 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic shares 54,145 53,186 Effect of stock-based compensation 727 1,051 Diluted shares 54,872 54,237 Net income per share attributable to Alaska Communications: Basic $ 0.01 $ 0.04 Diluted $ 0.01 $ 0.04

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_2

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	Defined Benefit Pension Interest Plan Rate Swaps Total Balance at December 31, 2020 $ (4,347 ) $ (1,993 ) $ (6,340 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 47 (19 ) 28 Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income (19 ) 355 336 Net other comprehensive income 28 336 364 Balance at March 31, 2021 $ (4,319 ) $ (1,657 ) $ (5,976 )
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items: Amortization of loss $ (26 ) $ (33 ) Income tax effect 7 9 After tax (19 ) (24 ) Amortization of gain on interest rate swap: Reclassification to interest expense 496 - Income tax effect (141 ) - After tax 355 - Total reclassifications, net of income tax $ 336 $ (24 )

Note 17 - Joint Venture (Tables

Note 17 - Joint Venture (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Cash $ 270 $ 270 Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $531 and $506 $ 1,610 $ 1,635

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash F_2

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Notes Tables
Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,114 $ 33,818 Restricted cash 1,326 1,320 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 23,440 $ 35,138
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]	2021 2020 Supplemental Non-cash Transactions: Capital expenditures incurred but not paid at March 31 $ 1,389 $ 2,215 Dividends payable at March 31 $ 16 $ 4,852 Additions to ARO asset $ 10 $ 70 Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ 627 $ -

Note 1 - Summary of Significa_2

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
ACS Cable Systems LLC and Quintillion Holdings, LLC Joint Venture [Member] | Quintillion Holdings, LLC [Member]
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage	50.00%

Note 2 - Merger Agreement (Deta

Note 2 - Merger Agreement (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Merger Agreement, Right to Receive Cash for Shares, Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 3.40
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	$ 923	$ 0	$ 9,550
Business Acquisition, Transaction Costs			2,750
Merger Agreement, Termination Fee			$ 6,800

Note 3 - Revenue 1 (Details Tex

Note 3 - Revenue 1 (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	$ 71,358
Contract with Customer, Provision for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable	$ 396

Note 3 - Revenue 2 (Details Tex

Note 3 - Revenue 2 (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	$ 71,358
Equipment Delivery, Installation and Configuration [Member] | Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-04-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	$ 1,928
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Period (Month)	12 months
Business Broad Band, Voice and Managed IT Services [Member] | Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-04-01 | Minimum [Member]
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	$ 69,430
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Period (Month)	1 year
Business Broad Band, Voice and Managed IT Services [Member] | Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-04-01 | Maximum [Member]
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Period (Month)	10 years

Note 3 - Revenue - Disaggregati

Note 3 - Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		$ 52,253	$ 50,224
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		8,415	8,042
Total Revenue		60,668	58,266
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Business Broadband [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		15,681	15,353
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		15,681	15,353
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Business Voice and Other [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		6,697	6,857
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		6,697	6,857
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Managed IT Services [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		1,217	1,227
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		1,217	1,227
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Equipment Sales and Installations [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		2,618	1,414
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		2,618	1,414
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Wholesale Broadband [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		10,818	10,253
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		10,818	10,253
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Wholesale Voice and Other [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		1,121	1,288
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		1,121	1,288
Business and Wholesale Revenue, Operating Leases and Other Deferred Revenue [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		0	0
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		2,819	2,391
Total Revenue		2,819	2,391
Business and Wholesale Revenue [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		38,152	36,392
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		2,819	2,391
Total Revenue		40,971	38,783
Consumer Revenue, Broadband [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		6,945	6,692
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		6,945	6,692
Consumer Revenue, Voice and Other [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		2,230	2,449
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		2,230	2,449
Consumer Revenue [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		9,175	9,141
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		0	0
Total Revenue		9,175	9,141
Regulatory Revenue, Access, Including Customer Ordered Service and Special Access [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606	[1]	4,926	4,691
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance	[1]	0	0
Total Revenue	[1]	4,926	4,691
Regulatory Revenue, Access, Including Carrier of Last Resort and Carrier Common Line [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606	[2]	0	0
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance	[2]	673	727
Total Revenue	[2]	673	727
Regulatory, High-cost Support [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		0	0
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		4,923	4,924
Total Revenue		4,923	4,924
Regulatory Revenue [Member]
Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606		4,926	4,691
Revenue Accounted for Under Other Guidance		5,596	5,651
Total Revenue		$ 10,522	$ 10,342
[1]	Includes customer ordered service and special access.
[2]	Includes Essential Network Support (“ENS”).

Note 3 - Revenue - Revenue Acco

Note 3 - Revenue - Revenue Accounted for In Accordance With ASC 606, By Timing of Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Total revenue		$ 52,253	$ 50,224
Transferred over Time [Member]
Total revenue		44,709	44,119
Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Total revenue		2,618	1,414
Regulatory Revenue, Access [Member]
Total revenue	[1]	$ 4,926	$ 4,691
[1]	Includes customer ordered service and special access.

Note 3 - Revenue - Reconciliati

Note 3 - Revenue - Reconciliation of Contract Assets and Liabilities Associated With Contracts With Customers In Accordance With ASC 606 (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Balance at January 1	$ 6,568
Contract additions, contract assets	732
Amortization, contract assets	(862)
Balance at March 31	6,438
Balance at January 1	3,971
Contract additions, contract liabilities	1,082
Revenue recognized, contract liabilities	(505)
Balance at March 31	$ 4,548

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable (D

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current, Total	$ 40,284		$ 41,893
Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal)	396	$ (229)
COVID 19 [Member]
Proceeds from Government Grant	725
Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal)	(128)
Rural Health Care Customers [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current, Total	$ 8,625		$ 7,829

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable -

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable - Summary of Accounts Receivable, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts receivable, gross	$ 44,574	$ 45,953
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(4,290)	(4,060)
Accounts receivable, net	40,284	41,893
Retail Customers [Member]
Accounts receivable, gross	27,834	29,815
Wholesale Carriers [Member]
Accounts receivable, gross	8,441	8,402
Other [Member]
Accounts receivable, gross	$ 8,299	$ 7,736

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable _2

Note 4 - Accounts Receivable - Summary of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Balance	$ 4,060
Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal)	396	$ (229)
Charged to other accounts	0
Deductions	(166)
Balance	$ 4,290

Note 5 - Other Current Assets -

Note 5 - Other Current Assets - Prepayments and Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Prepaid expense		$ 3,890	$ 2,619
Income tax receivable	[1]	3	353
Other		3,324	3,432
Total prepayments and other current assets		$ 7,217	$ 6,404
[1]	See Note 16 “Income Taxes."

Note 6 - Current Liabilities -

Note 6 - Current Liabilities - Summary of Accounts Receivable, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts payable - trade	$ 13,758	$ 18,375
Accrued payroll, benefits, and related liabilities	17,312	14,587
Deferred capacity and other revenue	9,773	8,781
Advance billings	3,622	3,340
Other	6,890	4,617
Total accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities	$ 51,355	$ 49,700

Note 7 - Long-term Obligation_2

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 15, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 28, 2019
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative, Final Notional Amount								$ 67,500
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate								6.1735%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate								4.50%
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Agreement, Alternate Base Rate, Percentage Lower Than LIBOR Margin	1.00%
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate							5.80%
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Total					$ 1,125
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal		$ 2,104
Debt Instrument Covenants, Minimum Borrowing	$ 90,000
Weighted Average Life of Senior Credit Facility (Year)	2 years
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Total			$ 4,500	$ 3,375		$ 2,250
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	4.50%
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Initial Term A Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 180,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	20,000
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Delayed-Draw Term A Facility [Member]
Debt Agreement, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	25,000
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member] | Incremental Term A Loans [Member]
Debt Agreement, Minimum Incremental Borrowing Capacity	$ 60,000

Note 7 - Long-term Obligation_3

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations - Summary of Long-term Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Finance leases and other long-term obligations	$ 2,661	$ 2,676
Total long-term obligations	166,701	168,708
Less current portion	(9,071)	(9,067)
Long-term obligations, net of current portion	157,630	159,641
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term obligations	166,646	168,896
Debt discount	(1,384)	(1,523)
Debt issuance costs	$ (1,222)	$ (1,341)

Note 7 - Long-term Obligation_4

Note 7 - Long-term Obligations - Summary of Aggregate Maturities of Long-term Obligations (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
2021 (April 1 - December 31)	$ 6,802
2022 (January 1 - December 31)	11,333
2023 (January 1 - December 31)	15,851
2024 (January 1 - December 31)	133,018
2025 (January 1 - December 31)	145
Thereafter	2,158
Total maturities of long-term obligations	$ 169,307

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liab_3

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liabilities (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Amortization of Deferred Revenue	$ 2,783	$ 2,357

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liab_4

Note 8 - Other Long-term Liabilities - Summary of Other Long-term Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Other	$ 12,432	$ 13,223
Total other long-term liabilities	93,821	94,764
IRU [Member]
Deferred revenue, noncurrent	49,463	49,739
GCI [Member]
Deferred revenue, noncurrent	26,454	26,965
Service, Other [Member]
Deferred revenue, noncurrent	$ 5,472	$ 4,837

Note 9 - Leases (Details Textua

Note 9 - Leases (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Present Value	$ 10,246
Dark Fiber Lease [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract (Year)	20 years
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract (Year)	7 years
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract (Year)	30 years

Note 9 - Leases - Lease Cost an

Note 9 - Leases - Lease Cost and Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Amortization of right-of-use assets	$ 47	$ 47
Interest on lease liabilities	66	67
Operating lease costs	2,264	1,968
Total lease cost	2,377	$ 2,082
Operating lease right of use assets	88,135		$ 89,821
Operating lease liabilities - current	3,276		3,392
Operating lease liabilities - noncurrent	79,631		81,103
Total liabilities	82,907		84,495
Finance leases, liability, current	71
Finance leases, liability, noncurrent	2,590
Total finance lease liabilities	2,661		2,676
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Finance leases, assets	5,800		5,800
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization [Member]
Finance leases, assets, depreciation and amortization	(3,934)		(3,887)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Member]
Finance leases, assets	1,866		1,913
Current Portion of Long-term Obligations [Member]
Finance leases, liability, current	71		67
Long-term Obligations, Net of Current Portion [Member]
Finance leases, liability, noncurrent	$ 2,590		$ 2,609

Note 9 - Leases - Maturities of

Note 9 - Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021), operating leases	$ 5,926
2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021), financing leases	246
2022, operating leases	7,911
2022, financing leases	336
2023, operating leases	7,589
2023, financing leases	345
2024, operating leases	7,397
2024, financing leases	355
2025, operating leases	7,323
2025, financing leases	364
Thereafter, operating leases	157,529
Thereafter, financing leases	3,108
Total lease payments, operating leases	193,675
Total lease payments, financing leases	4,754
Less imputed interest, operating leases	(111,747)
Less imputed interest, financing leases	(2,093)
Total present value of lease obligations, financing leases	2,661	$ 2,676
Present value of current obligations, financing leases	(71)
Present value of long-term obligations, financing leases	2,590
Operating Lease, Liability, Current and Noncurrent, Gross [Member]
Total present value of lease obligations, operating leases	81,928
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Gross [Member]
Present value of current obligations, operating leases	(2,297)
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Gross [Member]
Present value of long-term obligations, operating leases	$ 79,631

Note 9 - Leases - Other Informa

Note 9 - Leases - Other Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Operating cash flows from finance leases	$ 66	$ 67
Operating cash flows from operating leases	2,106	1,826
Financing cash flows from finance leases	15	12
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	$ 627	$ 0
Finance leases, Weighted-average remaining lease term (Year)	12 years	13 years
Operating leases, Weighted-average remaining lease term (Year)	28 years	29 years
Finance leases, Weighted-average discount rate	9.80%	9.80%
Operating leases, Weighted-average discount rate	6.90%	6.90%

Note 9 - Leases - Lease Income

Note 9 - Leases - Lease Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Total lease income	$ 1,620	$ 1,171

Note 9 - Leases - Maturities _2

Note 9 - Leases - Maturities of Future Undiscounted Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
2021 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2021)	$ 1,224
2022	917
2023	877
2024	873
2025	836
Thereafter	4,350
Total future undiscounted lease payments	$ 9,077

Note 10 - Employee Terminatio_2

Note 10 - Employee Termination Benefits (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020
Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, Severance Benefits					$ 210
Payments for Postemployment Benefits		$ 210
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Payments for Postemployment Benefits	$ 46		$ 24	$ 1,390
Defined Benefit Plan, Cost of Providing Special and Contractual Termination Benefits				$ 1,715
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current	$ 255

Note 11 - Retirement Plans - Su

Note 11 - Retirement Plans - Summary of Net Periodic Pension Expense for ACS Retirement Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Interest cost	$ 119	$ 117
Expected return on plan assets	(184)	(185)
Amortization of loss	39	35
Net periodic pension expense	$ (26)	$ (33)

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Pla_3

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	Jul. 24, 2020	Jun. 16, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021
Amended 2012 ESPP [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized (in shares)	0.6	0.6
Performance Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)			3 years
Share Based Payment Arrangement, Modification Expense			$ 151
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Modification Expense from Previous Years			$ 133

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Pla_4

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Activity for Restricted Stock Units, Long-term Incentive Awards and Non-employee Director Stock Compensation (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021$ / sharesshares
Number of shares - Nonvested (in shares) | shares	876
Weighted average grant date fair value - Nonvested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.20
Number of shares - Granted (in shares) | shares	0
Weighted average grant date fair value - Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0
Number of shares - Vested (in shares) | shares	(244)
Weighted average grant date fair value - Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.68
Number of shares - Canceled or expired (in shares) | shares	(3)
Weighted average grant date fair value - Canceled or expired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.61
Number of shares - Nonvested (in shares) | shares	629
Weighted average grant date fair value - Nonvested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.40

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Pla_5

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans - Summary of Activity for Performance Share Units (Details) - Performance Share Units [Member] shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021$ / sharesshares
Number of shares - Nonvested (in shares) | shares	1,174
Weighted average grant date fair value - Nonvested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.50
Number of shares - Granted (in shares) | shares	0
Weighted average grant date fair value - Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0
Number of shares - Vested (in shares) | shares	(356)
Weighted average grant date fair value - Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.35
Number of shares - Canceled or expired (in shares) | shares	0
Weighted average grant date fair value - Canceled or expired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0
Number of shares - Nonvested (in shares) | shares	818
Weighted average grant date fair value - Nonvested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Pla_6

Note 12 - Stock Incentive Plans - Share-based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Total compensation cost for share-based payments	$ 389	$ 309
Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share) (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Total fair value of shares vested during the period	$ 605	$ 1,248
Unamortized share-based payments	$ 1,589	$ 799
Weighted average period to be recognized as expense (Year)	1 year 6 months	1 year 9 months 18 days

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_3

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 15, 2019	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative, Final Notional Amount				$ 67,500
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate				6.1735%
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				4.50%
Senior Credit Facilities and Other Long-Term Obligations [Member]
Debt and Lease Obligation, Total		$ 167,923	$ 170,049
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument Covenants, Minimum Borrowing	$ 90,000
Weighted Average Life of Senior Credit Facility (Year)	2 years

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_4

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments - Financial Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - Interest Rate Swap [Member] - Fair Value, Recurring [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Other assets	$ 2,314	$ 2,784
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Other assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Other assets	2,314	2,784
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Other assets	$ 0	$ 0

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_5

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Financial Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges (Details) - Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] - Interest Rate Swap [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Other Assets [Member]
Notional Amount	$ 126,563
Fair Value	$ 2,314
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Notional Amount		$ 128,250
Fair Value		$ 2,784

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_6

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Gains and Losses Before Income Taxes on Interest Rate Swap Cash Flow Hedges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (27)	$ (2,878)
Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income	$ (496)	$ 0

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurem_7

Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments - Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Accounting on the Company's Statement of Operations (Details) - Interest Expense [Member] - Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] - Cash Flow Hedging [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Hedged interest payments	$ (1,483)	$ (2,081)
Loss on interest rate swap	$ (496)	$ 0

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share -

Note 14 - Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Net income attributable to Alaska Communications	$ 606	$ 2,387
Basic shares (in shares)	54,145	53,186
Effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	727	1,051
Diluted shares (in shares)	54,872	54,237
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.04

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_3

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Estimated Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Within Next Twelve Months	$ 1,899

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_4

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Summary of Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Balance		$ 165,919	$ 173,509
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income	[1]	336	(24)
Balance		166,592	168,861
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance		(4,347)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		47
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income		(19)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		28
Balance		(4,319)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Balance		(1,993)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(19)
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income		355
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		336
Balance		(1,657)
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance		(6,340)	(3,277)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		28
Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive loss to net income		336
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		364
Balance		$ (5,976)	$ (5,312)
[1]	See Note 15 “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information regarding the Company’s interest rate swaps.

Note 15 - Accumulated Other C_5

Note 15 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Summary of Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to Net Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Amortization of (income) loss	[1],[2]	$ (26)	$ (33)
Income tax effect	[2]	7	9
After tax	[2]	(19)	(24)
Reclassification to interest expense	[3]	496	0
Income tax effect	[3]	(141)	0
After tax	[3]	355	0
Total reclassifications, net of income tax	[3]	$ 336	$ (24)
[1]	Included in “Other income (expense), net” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.
[2]	See Note 13 “Retirement Plans” for additional information regarding the Company’s pension plans.
[3]	See Note 15 “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information regarding the Company’s interest rate swaps.

Note 16 - Stockholders' Equity

Note 16 - Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Apr. 20, 2020	Mar. 09, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.09
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 4,852
Payments of Dividends, Total			$ 4,836
Dividends Payable				$ 16	$ 4,852
Dividends Payable, Date Declared		Mar. 9, 2020
Dividends Payable, Date to be Paid		Jun. 18, 2020
Dividends Payable, Date of Record	Apr. 20, 2020

Note 17 - Joint Venture - Certa

Note 17 - Joint Venture - Certain Financial Information About the Joint Venture Included On the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $531 and $506	$ 387,009	$ 390,916
ACS Cable Systems LLC and Quintillion Holdings, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Cash	270	270
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $531 and $506	$ 1,610	$ 1,635

Note 17 - Joint Venture - Cer_2

Note 17 - Joint Venture - Certain Financial Information About the Joint Venture Included On the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 1,070,449	$ 1,062,027

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash F_3

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current, Total	$ 1,326	$ 1,326
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current, Total	1,300	1,300
Other Restricted Cash [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current, Total	$ 26	$ 26

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash F_4

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Reported Within the Statement of Financial Position (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,114	$ 19,644	$ 33,818
Restricted cash	1,326		1,320
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 23,440	$ 20,970	$ 35,138	$ 27,993

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash F_5

Note 18 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Summary of Supplemental Non-cash Transaction and Nonmonetary Exchange Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Capital expenditures incurred but not paid at March 31	$ 1,389	$ 2,215
Dividends payable at March 31	16	4,852
Additions to ARO asset	10	70
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	$ 627	$ 0

Note 19 - Business Segments (De

Note 19 - Business Segments (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Number of Reportable Segments	1

Note 20 - Commitments and Con_2

Note 20 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Estimated Litigation Liability	$ 2,123