Exhibit 99.1

           Alaska Communications Systems Announces Addition
                      to its Board of Directors;
             Edward J. (Ned) Hayes, Jr. Brings Extensive
                 Financial and Operational Expertise

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--Alaska
Communications Systems Group, Inc. ("ACS") (NASDAQ:ALSK) today
announced that its board of directors has elected Edward J. (Ned)
Hayes, Jr. of San Jose, California to the board. This election
increases the board size to nine members and adds to the board another
"audit committee financial expert," as defined by Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations.
    "We are thrilled to have Ned join our Board," said Liane
Pelletier, ACS President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the
Board. "Ned's extensive telecommunications experience and reputation
as a change agent will serve ACS well. He has demonstrated operational
and financial strengths in multiple industries, including in the
Internet market, a very important growth area of the
telecommunications industry."
    Hayes currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Quantum Corporation (NYSE:DSS), a roughly $1
billion global leader in the design and manufacture of storage
technologies. He previously served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of DIRECTV Broadband, Inc., an Internet service provider, and
as Chief Financial Officer of the Global Service Provider Business
unit at Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    In addition to his position on the board at ACS, Hayes currently
sits on the board of New Wave Research, Inc., as an independent
director and Chair of the Audit Committee.

    About Alaska Communications Systems

    ACS is the leading integrated communications provider in Alaska,
offering local telephone service, wireless, long distance, data, and
Internet services to business and residential customers throughout
Alaska. More information can be found on the company's website at
www.acsalaska.com or at its investor site at www.alsk.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Statements about future results and other expectations constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based
on current expectations and the current economic environment. The
company cautions that these statements are not guarantees of future
performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of factors in
addition to those discussed herein could cause actual results to
differ materially from expectations. The company's financial planning
is affected by business and economic conditions and changes in
customer order patterns. Any projections are inherently subject to
significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies,
many of which are beyond the control of ACS. For further information
regarding risks and uncertainties associated with ACS' business,
please refer to the company's SEC filings, including, but not limited
to, the sections entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the company's Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, and "Risk Factors" in the
company's current report on Form 8-K dated November 29, 2005. The
company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    CONTACT: Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
             Meghan Stapleton, 907-297-3000 (Media)
             meghan.stapleton@acsalaska.com
             or
             Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates
             Kirsten Chapman, 415-433-3777 (Investors)
             David Barnard, 415-433-3777 (Investors)
             david@lhai-sf.com