Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

Northern Trust Funds Broadband Project

By 250 News

The Board of Directors of the Northern Development Initiative Trust (Northern Trust) has  approved a grant of  $90,000 towards the completion and operation of a broadband internet system for residents of the Central Coast Regional District. The system should be fully operational by the spring of 2006. 

The Central Coast Broadband Project will be a significant contributor to accelerating economic development, and small business in particular, and to enhancing community sustainability. Currently only a few hundred homes in the Central Coast region have dial-up internet. Only the two regional hospitals and two schools have broadband internet access. 

Across Canada more than 60% of homes and businesses use broadband connections to conduct business, access education and health services, connect with family and friends and access information. This broadband implementation is aimed at better linking this remote part of BC to the rest of the world through high-speed internet access. The projections are that 700 additional subscribers will be added to the network between now and 2009.

The project is estimated to cost just over $2 million, with the final $90,000 being supplied by the Northern Development Initiative Trust. 

The Central Coast Broadband Project was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee (NW RAC). NW RAC Chair, Mayor Jack Talstra of Terrace states, "the project applications from the Coast Connect Development Society and Coast Connect Communications Society are the first from our region to receive project funding." 

This project will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the area and help create 20 new full-time and part-time employment opportunities in the first 18 months following completion of the broadband internet system.
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