Dick Harris, MP, Announces British Columbia Projects to Receive Broadband Canada Funding

Prince George, B.C., July 15, 2010 — Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo–Prince George, today announced that thirteen projects in British Columbia have been conditionally approved for funding through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. These projects will bring broadband Internet access to approximately 9 400 households in the province.

"Broadband Internet will mean boundless opportunities for these communities," said Mr. Harris. "These latest announcements, together with those from round one announced in May, mean that these British Columbia households will soon be online at modern, multimedia-capable speeds."

Canada's Economic Action Plan provided $225 million for the development and implementation of a strategy to extend broadband coverage. By far the biggest component of this strategy is Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians, an initiative that targets Canadians living in unserved and underserved areas. This is the second funding announcement under Broadband Canada; others will follow until all available funds have been allocated.

For the individuals, families and businesses in British Columbia that will soon have access to broadband Internet, important economic and social benefits, including telehealth, business opportunities and distance learning, will become available. More broadly, it will encourage economic development, spur innovation and improve the quality of life in hundreds of communities across the province.

The attached backgrounder provides more information on this round of announcements. More details, including the areas covered by these projects, are available on the Broadband Canada website

For further information (media only), please contact:

Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502

Backgrounder
Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians — Second Funding Announcement for British Columbia

In July 2010, the Government of Canada announced the second round of projects in British Columbia to receive conditional funding approval through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. The projects conditionally approved in this round will offer broadband Internet access to approximately 9 400 households in the province of British Columbia. Collectively, this reflects a total investment of up to $10.5 million in the province.

The following companies are conditionally approved for funding in British Columbia as part of today's announcement:

Base Technology Ltd.
Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc.
Mascon Cable Systems Inc.
Minto Communications Society
Red Mountain Internet Society
Shaw Cablesystems Limited
WiiTec Solutions Ltd.

More details on today's announcement, including the areas covered by these projects, are available on the Broadband Canada website.

Combined with those projects announced in round one on May 9, 2010, Broadband Canada will soon bring high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to more than 32 000 households in British Columbia. Announcements of additional investments involving more geographic areas, regions, provinces and companies will be made in the near future, until all program funds are allocated.

About Broadband Canada

As part of Budget 2009 — Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada provided $225 million over three years, beginning in 2009–10, for Industry Canada to develop and implement a strategy to extend broadband coverage. By far the biggest component of this strategy is Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians.

The program aims to extend broadband service to as many unserved and underserved Canadian households as possible. As communities vary greatly in size, this program focuses on connecting households. This method provides a clearer understanding of service availability for Canadians: the fact that a community has broadband access does not always mean that service is available to individual households.