EXHIBIT 99.1

ACS TO PURSUE $175 MILLION PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF SENIOR NOTES AND $250 MILLION
SENIOR SECURED CREDIT FACILITY

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2003--Alaska Communications Systems
Holdings, Inc. announced today that it is pursuing the issuance of $175 million
aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2011 (the "Notes")
through a private placement to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The purpose of the private placement is
to recapitalize the company through the issuance of the Notes, the simultaneous
entering into of a new bank credit agreement relating to a term loan facility in
an aggregate principal amount of $200 million and a revolving credit facility in
a principal amount of $50 million, and the repayment in full of approximately
$320.7 million in borrowings under the Company's existing bank credit facility
with a portion of the net proceeds from the Notes and the new term loan
facility. The remaining net proceeds will finance general corporate needs of the
Company.

The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and may not
be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

ABOUT ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS -- ACS is the leading integrated,
facilities-based telecommunications services provider in Alaska, offering local
telephone, wireless, Internet and interexchange services to business and
residential customers throughout Alaska. ACS currently services over 339,000
access lines, and has approximately 83,000 wireless customers, 45,000 Internet
customers, and 44,000 long distance customers. More information can be found on
the Company's website at http://www.alsk.com.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release includes forward-looking
statements, estimates and projections that are based on current expectations
only, and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many
of which are beyond the control of Alaska Communications. Actual events and
results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected if
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying
assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include
but are not limited to: rapid technological developments and changes in the
telecommunications industries; ongoing deregulation in the telecommunications
industry as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and other similar
federal and state legislation and the federal and state rules and regulations
enacted pursuant to that legislation; regulatory limitations on the Company's
ability to change its pricing for communications services; the possible future
unavailability of SFAS No. 71 to the Company's wireline subsidiaries; and
possible changes in the demand for the Company's products and services. In
addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes and results may
differ materially because of other, more general, factors including (without
limitation) changes in general industry and market conditions and growth rates;
changes in interest rates or other general national, regional or local economic
conditions; governmental and public policy changes; changes in accounting
policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as required by accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States; and the continued
availability of financing in the amounts, at the terms and on the conditions
necessary to support the Company's future business. These and other
uncertainties related to the Company's business are described in greater detail
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002. The information contained in this release is as of August 7, 2003. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of this information
whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, or
otherwise.

Contacts

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
Kevin P. Hemenway, 907-297-3000
www.acsalaska.com
or
the blueshirt group
Chris Danne / Brinlea Johnson, 415-217-7722

chris@blueshirtgroup.com
brinlea@blueshirtgroup.com