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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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FERNIE – The Province has successfully facilitated an arrangement between the Columbia Mountain Open Network and TELUS that will see high speed broadband digital Internet access delivered to 11 regional Kootenay centres. These “hub” connections will enable communities all over the Kootenays to connect to new education, economic, and health care opportunities on high-speed Internet, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
“Under our new Net Work BC initiative we are bridging the digital divide by bringing high speed broadband Internet access to every community in B.C.,” said Campbell. "This partnership will create broadband hubs in all regions of the Kootenays. These hubs will be used by CMON to bring Internet for the first time ever to communities from Winlaw to Grasmere and ensure that residents of the Kootenays share in the opportunities of the new knowledge economy. It is an example of how we're supporting community-led projects to create the "last mile" connections to local homes and businesses.”
The Province will open 11 of its voice and data network centres to CMON, and sell the services to the community-based network. With the savings it realizes, CMON can link these centres to all communities in the Kootenays and put in place the “last mile” connection that brings high-speed Internet to homes, schools, and workplaces. TELUS has agreed to double the number of high-speed circuits it is supplying to the network centres and will also accelerate its construction schedule to accommodate CMON.
“CMON and its member communities are very pleased to be working with the Province and TELUS on this unique initiative,” stated Jeff Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of CMON. “This partnership will allow community network plans to move forward faster, accelerating the delivery of the benefits of broadband networks to our member communities.”
“TELUS is committed to the government of B.C.'s goal of eradicating the digital divide and thereby ensuring that all British Columbians can participate in the knowledge-based economy and access the educational, social and cultural benefits delivered through broadband networks,” said Darren Entwhistle, TELUS President and Chief Executive Officer. “This three-way partnership represents an outstanding example of how TELUS is working with both the B.C. government and local stakeholders, such as CMON, to bring high-speed connectivity to every region of B.C. so that we can fully unleash the power of the Internet for all British Columbians.”
By providing 11 connection points, the Province is also furthering the CMON project in another way – the government's participation can be considered an in-kind contribution, which can be matched with $6 million in funding from the federal government's Broadband Pilot Program.
The partnership announced today is one component of the provincial government's Net Work BC plan to bridge the digital divide by bringing high-speed Internet access to all communities in B.C. by the end of 2006. This year 72 communities will be connected, with another 101 to be connected in the coming years. Net Work BC solves the problem that rural and remote communities can't solve on their own – by bringing high-speed Internet connection points within reach of British Columbians.
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