LYTTON, B.C. – The federal government today, along with the B.C. provincial government, announced an investment of $18 million in three projects that will provide new or improved high-speed Internet access to eight communities, including seven First Nations, and up to nine institutions across British Columbia.
Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Jinny Sims, B.C.'s Minister of Citizens' Services were in Lytton on Tuesday to confirm the announcement.
As a result of this funding, residents of Bridge River, T'it'q'et, Skuppah, Boothroyd, Gitanyow, Iskut, Dease Lake and Bob Quinn Lake will be able to have access to stable, more affordable broadband.
The Lytton Area Wireless Society, whose innovative work we profiled here last year, will carry out the work in its region, which is about a four hour drive north of Vancouver. (The photo at right is a file photo from LyttonNet which shows one of its volunteers connecting fibre optic customers.)
"This funding will help ensure reliable and affordable broadband Internet access to Bridge River, T'it'q'et, Skuppah, Boothroyd, and residents and businesses in other rural communities along a 100 km corridor of the Fraser Canyon, said Rob Bate, president od the Lytton Area Wireless Society, in the press release.
“The project will provide a fibre optic backbone linking the core of our network from Boston Bar to Lillooet, and it will allow redundant connectivity to our partner networks in the region. Lytton Area Wireless Society is especially grateful to all who have contributed and are contributing to the growth and success of Lyttonnet, and we look forward to completing this next milestone in our growth.”
“This funding will enable TNDC (Tahltan Nation Development Corporation) to provide fast, reliable and advanced fibre optic communication to northwest British Columbia, transforming the lives of the Tahltan people and benefiting the many others who live and work in this remote region,” added Peter Arendt, CEO of TNDC, in the release.
The TNDC regions are much further north. Bob Quinn Lake is close to the Alaska border, for example.
“Fibre optic communication will bring significant benefits, improving the delivery of health, safety, education and social services and fostering economic development, environmental protection and infrastructure development. The extension of high-speed service into the Tahltan communities of Iskut and Dease Lake, with future potential for Telegraph Creek, will enable the Tahltan Nation to benefit from the services provided in the digital age."
Of the $18 million investment in high-speed Internet announced today, $13.8 million will come from the federal Connect to Innovate program and approximately $3 million will come from the Government of British Columbia, through the Connecting British Columbia program and the Northern Development Initiative Trust, pending the outcome of a due diligence process and negotiated agreement with the service providers. An additional $1.2 million will come from other contributors, says the release.
