In a move that could be a seismic shift for communities between Sooke and Port Renfrew, Telus Communications is attempting to extend fibre optic connections to the region.

The area is now severely under-serviced with what is generally acknowledged as poor or non-existent high-speed internet access and spotty cellphone service.

But all that may change if TelusB次元官网网址� application for funding is approved.

B次元官网网址淭his could be a real game-changer for the region,B次元官网网址� Mike Hicks, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director, said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 would open up all kinds of possibilities for the region. ThereB次元官网网址檚 the possibility of a high-tech industry in the area and for people to telecommute and work from home.B次元官网网址�

Dan Hager, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, said that while the community isnB次元官网网址檛 celebrating yet, heB次元官网网址檚 hopeful the project gets funding and the fibre optic connections are laid.

B次元官网网址淭his would expand capacity for both residential and business in Port Renfrew and other communities like Jordan River,B次元官网网址� Hager said.

B次元官网网址淲e all know Renfrew is expanding and there comes a time when you canB次元官网网址檛 expand without reliable internet. Add to that the Pacheedaht are going to be opening a new school, how do they operate without the connections (to the internet)?B次元官网网址�

Hager said the current connections are provided through transmissions from microwave towers located on Salt Spring Island and are notoriously vulnerable to bad weather and other factors.

B次元官网网址淧ut the cable underground and itB次元官网网址檚 pretty much bullet-proof,B次元官网网址� Hager said.

Telus is applying for funding under two government programs B次元官网网址� the Connecting British Columbia Program and to the CRTC Broadband Fund.

Connecting B.C. is funded by the provincial government, and the $50 million program is now accepting applications for itB次元官网网址檚 third phase of funding.

The federally funded CRTC program is committed to providing $750 million nationally to close what they call the B次元官网网址渄igital divideB次元官网网址� between communities with broadband service and those that do not have connectivity.

As a condition of accessing the funding, Telus was required to submit letters of support from the Capital Regional District, the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, the Pacheedaht First Nation Council, Sooke School District and others.

Those letters were a chorus of support for the fibre optic application.

B次元官网网址淓veryone has written their letters of support. ItB次元官网网址檚 something that all the communities B次元官网网址� everyone B次元官网网址攊s looking forward to this happening,B次元官网网址� Hicks said.

Beyond the high-speed internet access fibre optics would allow, the installation would have the benefit of facilitating the installation of cell towers in the region. At present, much of the area has no cell coverage, a situation that Hicks and others have pointed to as presenting a risk for travellers on the Pacific Marine Circle Route.

B次元官网网址淚n order to have a cell tower, you need to have internet and electricity. To this point we havenB次元官网网址檛 had reliable internet as the satellite connections havenB次元官网网址檛 provided the connections weB次元官网网址檝e needed,B次元官网网址� Hicks said.

Should the grant requests be approved, the project would be fully funded through the government programs and Telus. There would be no financial commitment required on the part of any municipality or local governments.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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