Brand New Times High-speed Internet set to make way to New-Wes-Valley
Communication is about to switch into the next gear in the New-Wes-Valley area, but not everyone will be along for the ride.
The Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) Pilot Program is headed for the New-Wes-Valley, but only in some communities.
Broadband is a high-capacity Internet connection that is delivered through cable, satellite, and digital subscriber lines (DSL) that is considerably faster and more reliable than dial-up.
In total, $1.5 million has been made available for the program in the New-Wes-Valley and New World Island regions.
The New-Wes-Valley area will see a network that will be able to house a large contingent of services for its customers.
The Kittiwake Economic Development Corp. (KEDC), along with partners Industry Canada, Aliant, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the communities in the regions of New World Island and New-Wes-Valley, have joined forces to give businesses in the area the opportunity to work on a level playing field.
"We listened to the communities and we felt the need for the service. We wanted to get our businesses and our residents on an equal playing field as the more urban areas so they can be more competitive in today's communities," said Jill Bennett, KEDC's executive director.
"We've been waiting for this for a long time," said Sheryl Sturge of Beothic Fish Processors. "Almost 100 per cent of our product gets shipped out to international markets. With dial-up, we can't demonstrate our product to customers so they can see our products the way they would like to."
The BRAND Program was started by Industry Canada to bring broadband to rural communities that have no high-speed Internet services.
In total, the program has contributed $542,723 to help connect the Badger's Quay, Pound Cove, Brookfield and Valleyfield areas and nine other New World Island communities.
The Government of Canada has contributed, through ACOA, 440,000 for the initiative. Aliant has given $415,153 and the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development of the province has added $104,247 to the project.
$30,000 was also given to the project by the Newfoundland and Labrador government to be used for the building of infrastructure.
According to Ms. Bennett, services are scheduled to be available in the New-Wes-Valley area by the end of October.
People in the New World Island area are scheduled to have their services early in the new year, with everything scheduled to be completed by the end of March. According to Aliant representative Vic Simmons, geography was a major reason it has taken so long to get high-speed Internet services to the area.
"(It was) a major problem…," said Mr. Simmons. "In rural Newfoundland, it is hard to provide communities broadband access, but when Industry Canada brought us the BRAND project a few years ago, we thought it was a fabulous way to connect rural communities."
Mayor Grant Burry agreed it is a big step in uniting communities.
"Oh yes, for sure, but my understanding is that there are going to be parts of our area left out, but hopefully in due time, we're going to have that worked out and they will all be able to receive services."
Still hope
One of those communities in Mayor Burry's New-Wes-Valley being left out is Newtown, which is home to the Barbour heritage site, one of the area's biggest tourist attractions.
Judy Stagg, manager of the site, was devastated by the news it was not included in the BRAND initiative.
"I was very shocked when I read the release and I found out that we weren't included. We have anywhere from 18,000-20,000 visitors every summer and we depend highly on the Internet to conduct business."
Ms. Stagg said that site is the largest employer in the area other than Beothic Fish Processors, employing up to 70 people every year. Beothic is going to be receiving broadband through BRAND and is located 12 kilometres from the heritage site.
Since hearing the news, Ms. Stagg said she has been making calls and is being told there is still hope for their area.
"I'm being told that there is another program, CDLI, and there's a possibility that we may be hooked up under that program. I'm thinking there's still a glimmer of hope, but I'm not 100 per cent sure what is happening."
According to Gail Hoyles, a project co-ordinator for the KEDC, the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation program was designed to connect schools and businesses around schools with high-speed Internet. The plan is that every school in rural Newfoundland that does not have high-speed Internet is slated under that program to receive the services. It will allow businesses to use the services set up from the CDLI program.
"We, from BRAND, looked at communities that were not going to be connected under the CDLI program. We considered whatever communities were left out."
Ms. Hoyles said that under the CDLI program, Wesleyville is on the list and from informal discussion, has learned Newtown would receive services.
"The service has a footprint of a 10-15-kilometre radius around where they put the equipment. If Newtown falls in that radius, they will fall into that program. I can't say for sure that they will. I have a general idea that they will, but specifically I don't know," said Ms. Hoyles.
Newtown was looked at for the BRAND project, but did not fit the strict business model used for the project.
"We look at the cost per provision, which is a cost per home in the community. Anything over 5,000 per CPP, it's hard to make a business case to set up in that community."
According to Ms. Hoyles, Newtown fell outside the guidelines, as the cost per home was too expensive to justify including it at this time.
"To me that's besides the point," said Ms. Stagg. "If we're here conducting business, a large business, and we are part of New-Wes-Valley and New-Wes-Valley is being connected, then we should be, too."
Mayor Burry knows how important it is to have all of the communities receive the service.
"We'll take whatever avenue it takes, but have no doubt about it, they're not going to be left out. I'm going to do what I can and everyone will be included."
If Ms. Stagg has a say, it will be sooner rather than later.
"It's hard enough to conduct business and live in rural Newfoundland, but then for them to be bringing technology to the rest of the area and leaving us out; it's more difficult."
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