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KAMLOOPS – The Central Interior
Broadband Network (CIBN) is receiving $85,000 from the province to bring
broadband to 17 Interior communities, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger
and Cariboo South MLA Walt Cobb announced today.
Blue River, Boston
Bar, Bridge Lake, Chilanko Forks, Dog Creek, Gold Bridge, Horsefly, Lac La
Hache, Likely, Lytton, Lower Nicola, Little Fort, Pinantan Lake, Riske Creek,
Savona, Vavenby and Westwold will each receive a $5,000 grant to assist local
community champions in building sustainable last-mile infrastructure.
“This will help 17
communities in our region make the last-mile link to the Internet,” Krueger
said. “A high-speed connection opens new doors and new opportunities to
individuals, families and businesses that call the Central Interior home.”
“By
bringing broadband access to these rural communities we are giving them the
tools to succeed in today’s world,” Cobb said. “High-speed Internet can do so
much for communities and the families that inhabit them – the Cariboo will be
better off as a result of this funding.”
The Central Interior
Broadband Network presented a comprehensive plan to the province that will
bring broadband to unserved communities. The total forecasted infrastructure
implementation cost of the project is close to $2 million – much of which is
coming from the private sector and local government.
The selected service
wholesaler, On-Call Internet Services Inc., in partnership with TELUS, has
committed to operate the infrastructure that will provide a service comparable
in price and technical specifications to the DSL and Cable Modem services
currently offered in Canada’s largest cities.
“Expanding rural connectivity is a challenge
that requires a high level of partnership,” said Bill McQuarrie, executive
director of the Interior Science Innovation Council. “Without the help of the
Province, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, TELUS, On-Call Internet
Services Inc., and the Kamloops, Gold Trail and Cariboo-Chilcotin school
districts this would not have been possible.”
The money comes from
NetWork BC, the provincial government program in the Ministry of Management
Services tasked with bridging the digital divide by 2006.
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Management Services 250 356-9869 cell: 250 889-2285 |
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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