Over the last year, Golden Area initiatives (GAI) has been working towards a true broadband solution for Golden and Rural Golden in addressing affordable, high-performance internet needs and wants.

Last week, GAI announced that broadband fibre optic service will be introduced in late summer 2009. As part of their announcement, GAI delivered a survey throughout the downtown last week, in an effort to assess the demand for the new service and how people are feeling about their current service.

“We have been developing key partnerships, examining the technical and financial issues and working with private sector service providers. There will be an important formal announcement and specifics on subscriber costs likely within the next six to eight weeks. As such, we suggest waiting to sign up for lengthy contracts until such time as you are able to completely weigh all options available to you,” said Rob Miller, Manager at GAI.

Miller said that high performance internet connectivity is a critical factor of success for community economic development.

“However in Golden and rural Golden, there is no true, high performance (Broadband) service available. This has serious negative implications for all aspects of our community life (social, economic and cultural) and in particular, puts our business community and entrepreneurs in a completely disadvantaged position.”

He explained further that from a strict business perspective, the community owned broadband network model proposed will secure significant cost savings for local and regional subscribers.

“Monthly subscriber fees are being designed to be below or competitive with, existing dial-up and will open the door to have faster uploading/downloading speeds, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone services and provide a level of performance not currently available.”

Miller said that GAI has structured a complex, but unique and effective partnership to ensure this vision is realized. It is a joint venture of local governments, Nanofibre Networks and DaVinci Broadband, KHMR, GAI, The Columbia Valley Television and Rebroadcast Society, Columbia Mountain Open Network (CMON) and the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT).

“This is the first time the community and region has worked with such a diverse group of public and private partners.”

Miller explained that in general terms, the partnership is looking to initially service core areas of the town with fibre-optic based connectivity and the remaining areas of town and rural Golden through a wireless transmission. The new network will allow for superior performance over what is currently available to the community.

To fund the project, GAI has submitted an application to the Community Adjustment Fund (through the Federal government) to cover some of the cost of the project.

“Our application for the Community Adjustment Fund, on behalf of the overall partnership, is for $393,093. The total project costs are $691,440.65. Remaining costs are borne by the two Internet Service Providers, local governments and the CBT.”

Miller explained that the requested amount is to build a community owned fibre network in Golden-linking core downtown businesses and institutional users. The wireless linkage (to serve other residents and rural Golden) will be part of the regional network centre hardware (obtained through Telus and CMON) with all associated infrastructure housed at the Town of Golden offices.

Miller explained that at the GAI offices, this community owned open network model has been worked on for at least two years starting with a study of rural Golden’s internet user needs.

“There was also further technical study into how it would be possible to bring broadband service to rural Golden. Wireless broadband connection was explored for that purpose.”

Ron Oszust, Area A Director, said this has been a major project for recognizing the lack of connectivity for rural residents.

“To be able to bring this to Golden is critical to the growth of our area. The fact that there are so many people still living with dial-up, to me, is unfathomable. I am happy that we’re getting this close to the realization of broadband connectivity for our residents.”

Oszust explained that the three phased process, which will eventually bring a fibre connection into the town, will enable Golden to compete globally in business.

“I think that is extremely powerful. We, as local government, will continue an ongoing dialogue with our partners to make sure that this moves forward.”

Miller said that having a community owned network could change the ability to attract and retain residents to Golden.

“Over the coming weeks, GAI is planning to hold an information session to potential subscribers to develop an idea of those interested in a community owned open network. We believe we are offering the most cost effective and unquestionably the highest performance option available.”