WHEREAS Highway 16 is the major eastwest corridor in central British Columbia, and sees large volumes of commercial, general and tourist traffic travelling through remote areas that are without telephone access; AND WHEREAS there is literally no cell phone coverage from the Alberta border to the City of Prince George along Highway 16, a distance of approximately 400 kms, and for many others areas west to the coast: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to ensure that cell phone coverage is available to the travelling public along the entire BC highway system.
MINISTRY OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES The provincial government agrees that the provision of cellular telephone service is an increasingly important service that effects economic development, tourism and safety. This issue is complicated by the fact that there are a number of suppliers of cellular service in British Columbia as telecommunications in Canada is a federal government responsibility and there are no regulations requiring cellular service in any region of the country. The provincial government will continue to urge telecommunications vendors to expand their services, particularly in remote regions of the province.