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Letter to Editor
ShareRural Internet providers
Published: October 08, 2008 10:00 AMBusinesses and non-profit groups have until Nov. 7 to apply for the B.C. government’s “connecting citizens” grant program to deliver Internet service to remote and rural areas that don’t yet have it.
The new program offers grants of up to $50,000 to buy towers, supplies and wired or wireless equipment that delivers internet service from the nearest source to users.
Labour and Citizens’ Services Minister Iain Black said the government’s 2006 Network BC program succeeded in providing 320 out of 360 B.C. communities with service. That program was paid for by Telus as part of a contract to provide phone and internet services to the B.C. government.
Black said the increasing delivery of education and even health care services means broadband access is becoming more important, and in many cases can determine whether people can live and work in a remote location.
“Line-of-sight, high bandwidth wireless has come a long way, and so for a lot of these communities that’s the answer,” he said.
Application forms for the grant program are available at www.network.gov.bc.ca/ and information on Network BC is available by calling 1-800-663-7869.
