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Rural areas lack speed
Volunteer committee seeks Internet solutions and support
by Laura Walz | editor@prpeak.com
Most people in the Powell River area take high-speed Internet service for granted. There are pockets in the community, however, where this service is not available, leaving rural residents on the other side of the digital divide with no bridge.
Close to 40 people attended a meeting at the Lund Community Centre on October 19, to share information and to create a committee to pursue high-speed Internet connectivity.
Six volunteers signed up to be on a committee, which will work with the Powell River Regional District on finding a solution, Peter Parlevliet, a spokesman for the group, said.
The committee is looking for people from south of town to volunteer as well, Parlevliet said, adding the problem is not confined to north of Powell River. “We’re organized now and that’s important,” he said.
The lack of high-speed Internet service affects small businesses, people who work from home and youth, as online education is limited, Parlevliet said. “Having no high-speed Internet directly influences education and trade and commerce in our area,” he said.
Colin Palmer, regional district board chair and Electoral Area C director, and Patrick Brabazon, Electoral Area A director, attended the meeting as well.
In August, Mike Black, a Telus representative, attended a regional district committee-of-the-whole meeting to discuss the lack of access in rural areas to high-speed Internet. He advised that a local group has to be organized to make progress on the issue, noting that many sparsely settled rural areas can’t generate a sufficient return on the required capital investment.
Palmer said people at the meeting talked about what it was like to be on dial-up service. “It’s like living in the age of the dinosaurs,” he said. “We said eventually there were three reasons why the regional board should be interested. One is economic development, the second is just getting people in their homes to have high-speed Internet and thirdly, education for kids who live in those areas who just can’t connect at all.”
They heard “horror stories,” Palmer added, of people whose job depends on the Internet, but they have to come into town to get a high-speed connection.
The purpose of the whole process is to gather enough information and support to take to MP John Weston, who represents West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding, in order to tap into federal money, said Palmer. The federal government is dividing $225 million among the provinces to connect remote communities.
Regional district staff has recommended using funds from the economic development budget to contract with a firm or individual to put together a report for the regional district which would identify service area gaps and options for extending service to these areas. The consultant would also develop a technical plan and budget for the preferred option, research potential funding sources and prepare grant applications, if needed.
During the BC Broadband Conference, held in Vancouver in late September, a group of small, primarily rural ISPs (Internet service providers) concluded that the remaining eight per cent of British Columbians without Internet access will not be connected without some form of government incentive or subsidy.
People who would like more information about the committee or who would like to sign up to help can contact Parlevliet at pier320@telus.net.
-with files from Business in Vancouver
Close to 40 people attended a meeting at the Lund Community Centre on October 19, to share information and to create a committee to pursue high-speed Internet connectivity.
Six volunteers signed up to be on a committee, which will work with the Powell River Regional District on finding a solution, Peter Parlevliet, a spokesman for the group, said.
The committee is looking for people from south of town to volunteer as well, Parlevliet said, adding the problem is not confined to north of Powell River. “We’re organized now and that’s important,” he said.
The lack of high-speed Internet service affects small businesses, people who work from home and youth, as online education is limited, Parlevliet said. “Having no high-speed Internet directly influences education and trade and commerce in our area,” he said.
Colin Palmer, regional district board chair and Electoral Area C director, and Patrick Brabazon, Electoral Area A director, attended the meeting as well.
In August, Mike Black, a Telus representative, attended a regional district committee-of-the-whole meeting to discuss the lack of access in rural areas to high-speed Internet. He advised that a local group has to be organized to make progress on the issue, noting that many sparsely settled rural areas can’t generate a sufficient return on the required capital investment.
Palmer said people at the meeting talked about what it was like to be on dial-up service. “It’s like living in the age of the dinosaurs,” he said. “We said eventually there were three reasons why the regional board should be interested. One is economic development, the second is just getting people in their homes to have high-speed Internet and thirdly, education for kids who live in those areas who just can’t connect at all.”
They heard “horror stories,” Palmer added, of people whose job depends on the Internet, but they have to come into town to get a high-speed connection.
The purpose of the whole process is to gather enough information and support to take to MP John Weston, who represents West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding, in order to tap into federal money, said Palmer. The federal government is dividing $225 million among the provinces to connect remote communities.
Regional district staff has recommended using funds from the economic development budget to contract with a firm or individual to put together a report for the regional district which would identify service area gaps and options for extending service to these areas. The consultant would also develop a technical plan and budget for the preferred option, research potential funding sources and prepare grant applications, if needed.
During the BC Broadband Conference, held in Vancouver in late September, a group of small, primarily rural ISPs (Internet service providers) concluded that the remaining eight per cent of British Columbians without Internet access will not be connected without some form of government incentive or subsidy.
People who would like more information about the committee or who would like to sign up to help can contact Parlevliet at pier320@telus.net.
-with files from Business in Vancouver
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