OTTAWA – The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced Tuesday they are providing more than $2.6 million in combined funding for the Trout Lake BC Internet Society and the Village of Granisle to bring high-speed internet access to more than 400 households in nine rural B.C. communities.
Specifically, the Trout Lake BC Internet Society will receive $442,460 in funding to provide high-speed internet access in the communities of Beaton, Galena, Galena Bay, Halcyon Hot Springs, Hall’s Landing, St. Leon Hot Springs, Trout Lake and Whiskey Point, a federal government press release says.
The Village of Granisle will receive $2,228,157 in funding to provide high-speed internet access in its community of Granisle.
This funding is part of an existing $830-million partnership between the governments of Canada and B.C., announced in March 2022, to connect households in all remaining rural, remote and Indigenous communities throughout the province to high-speed internet.
The Canadian government aims to have 98% of Canadians nationwide able to access high-speed internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. The B.C. government’s target is to have 100% of B.C. communities connected to high-speed internet by 2027.
“The Trout Lake BC Internet Society would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Northern Development Initiative Trust and Network BC for their support in moving us toward faster and more reliable high-speed Internet,” John Wall, president and director of the Trout Lake BC Internet Society, said in the press release.
“Our coverage area has no cellular service and is remote, mountainous and heavily forested, making wireless links difficult to build, maintain and expand. Our small non-profit organization has a good foundation, and this funding will allow us to overcome weak links, invest in the latest technology, and upgrade tower and backup systems. With this support, the Trout Lake BC Internet Society can continue providing this service,” Wall said.
“Our community recognizes the need for broadband Internet service providing speeds of 50/10 megabits per second, and we are extremely excited to be recipients of Universal Broadband Fund funding,” said Linda McGuire, mayor of the Village of Granisle. “This will help promote our economic development and move the community forward.”
