BACKGROUNDER
2005LCS0026-001168 Dec. 16, 2005	Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services TELUS
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AGREEMENT BENEFITS RURAL B.C.

NetworkBC is a provincial organization created to help bridge the digital divide and connect B.C. communities.

 

In April 2005, NetworkBC negotiated the Connecting Communities Agreement with TELUS, government’s primary telecommunications supplier. This agreement ensures communities throughout rural and remote parts of the province have access to broadband service and the support necessary to connect their homes and businesses to high-speed Internet services.

 

The agreement calls for TELUS to construct and upgrade facilities in order to make a low-cost broadband Internet circuit available to each unconnected community.

 

There is no added cost to taxpayers for the expansion of these services.

 

The availability of affordable high-speed access to the Internet encourages qualifying Internet service providers to offer “last mile” connections into the community’s homes and businesses.

 

Each local Internet service provider qualifies through a selection process overseen by NetworkBC and TELUS. To be selected, the applicant must have a viable business plan, demonstrated community support for the ISP, and willingness to enter into a three-year contract with TELUS.

 

Since it was created, The NetworkBC project has worked with TELUS and other partners to:

• Upgrade 400 B.C. school Internet connections to high speed in 2004, with another 500 upgraded this year.
• Provide a grant of $630,000 to the BC Community Connectivity Co-operative and the First Nations Technology Council, to be used to assist communities in making their last-mile connections.
• Fund 30 regional projects to help communities purchase the equipment communities needed to complete their last-mile connections.

 

For more information, visit the connecting communities website at www.network.gov.bc.ca or www.telus.com/connectingcommunities.

-30-

Media contact:	Graham Currie Communications Director Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services 250 387-2699	Shawn Hall Media and Public Relations TELUS 604 697-8176 shawn.hall@telus.com
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.