20 SERVICE PROVIDERS TO CONNECT 31 B.C. COMMUNITIES

The Province and TELUS entered a Connecting Communities Agreement in April 2005 to bring high-speed Internet access to 119 rural B.C. communities.

The Province and TELUS have now awarded 20 organizations – including First Nations groups, community-based interests and existing Internet service providers – as the service providers for 31 of the 119 communities. These organizations will offer affordable broadband Internet access to homes and businesses in these communities.

Approved Internet Service Provider	Communities Served
ABC Communications	Bear Lake, Hixon, Nazko, Wells
Bamfield Anacla Wireless Internet Service Provider	Bamfield
Canal Flats	Canal Flats
Columbia Mountain Open Network	Parson, Winlaw
Community Futures Development Corp. of Mt. Waddington	Coal Harbour, Sointula, Zeballos
ComputerSmith	Forest Grove
Cybernet Communications	Topley
East Shore Internet Society	Crawford Bay
Gitanyow Band	Gitanyow
Gitxaala Council	Kitkatla
Gwaii Trust Society	Masset, Port Clements, Queen Charlotte, Sandspit, Skidegate
Kaslo InfoNet Society/ Lardeau Valley Internet Committee - Meadow Creek	Meadow Creek
Lax Kw'alaams Academy	Lax Kw'alaams
Nimpkish Valley Communications	Woss
One Link Enterprises	Lund, Vandana
Red Mountain Internet Society	Silverton
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary	Beaverdell
Riondel Community Cable Society	Riondel
Sayward Valley Communications	Sayward
Twin Island Communications	Mansons Landing

In addition, earlier this year, TELUS connected customers in nine communities with ADSL service. These communities are: Denman Island, Hornby Island, Kuper Island, Lower Nicola, Mount Currie, Savona, Slocan, Thetis Island and Willow River.

The Province and TELUS will continue to engage with organizations interested in being the Internet service provider for the remaining 79 communities.

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

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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.