EXHIBIT 99.1

CONTACT:   Michael Holmstrom, Chief Financial Officer
           ALEC Holdings, Inc., Anchorage
           (907) 297-3000

Date:      October 8, 1999

                ALEC HOLDINGS, INC. FILES REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                  RELATING TO PROPOSED INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

    ANCHORAGE, AK, OCT. 8, 1999 -- ALEC Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
with headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, announced today that it has filed a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to
the proposed issuance of $174 million (excluding the underwriters' over-
allotment option) of its common stock in an initial public offering. Goldman,
Sachs & Co., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, CIBC World Markets, Deutsche Banc
Alex. Brown and Hambrecht & Quist will be the underwriters for the offering. The
company stated that it plans to use the net proceeds of the proposed offering
for repayment of existing debt, capital expenditures, including enhanced
technologies, strategic investments and acquisitions and general corporate
purposes.

    Under the name Alaska Communications Systems, the company's subsidiaries
provide telecommunications services in Alaska, including local telephone,
wireless, long distance, data and Internet services to business and residential
customers throughout the state.

    A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These
securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time
the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall
there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification
under the securities laws of any such state.