WHEREAS the Premier has made a commitment to strengthen the economy and connect rural BC; AND WHEREAS many rural communities do not meet the criteria set by Network BC, and the program has been vastly over subscribed: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to engage the federal government, local government and industry in order to ensure that rural BC is connected with broadband internet service.
Ministry of Labour and Citizens Services There is considerable demand for broadband in rural areas not part of the Network BC program. This includes sparsely populated areas not involved in the Network BC project because they do not have a library, school or health care facility. Providing broadband Internet connections into those communities will enable citizens to obtain better access to health and education services as well as enhance regional economic development opportunities. In the 2006 Throne Speech, the Government of the Province of British Columbia Government committed to work with the federal government to extend broadband access to rural and remote First Nations in the Province of British Columbia Province. This responsibility was given to the Government Chief Information Office, whose creative approaches through Network BC to providing broadband to communities in the Province have won broad acclaim. Budget 2006 committed 15 million over two fiscal years to First Nations connectivity and capacity building, contingent upon matching federal funds which is being pursued. Further, in a recent deferral account decision, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC directed incumbent local exchange carriers such as TELUS to develop proposals to connect communities that do not have access to broadband Internet service. The total balance of the deferral account is approximately 650 million across Canada. This amounts to an investment of about 150 million in British Columbia and Alberta that can be made available for connectivity. The Province has collaborated with TELUS in the development of a strategy that will ensure that the deferral account funds are leveraged to the maximum degree possible with regard to the principles established by the CRTC and with regard to the Provinces priorities and objectives. TELUS filed its construction plans with the CRTC on September 1, 2006, and a decision by the CRTC is expected to be reached in early 2007. If the CRTC approves those plans, this will further contribute to the closure of the Provinces digital divide.