A local resident, Jana Tennent, is taking a stand for all Steelhead residents and is fighting to bring Telus ADSL high-speed Internet to our community. Below is a summary of her efforts to date and the next steps she will be taking. If you have any information, connections or anything else that will help her in this fight, please drop us a line and we will put you in touch with her.
The CRTC, in March 2006, introduced Decision CRTC 2006-9 - Broadband Expansion Proposal, wherein small communities throughout BC who have no high-speed internet options, including no cable service, are going to be systematically upgraded. Telus has a June 30, 2006, deadline to submit budgets and plans for this upgrade.
This broadband expansion will be carried out via buried cables or "fiber in ground" and cannot be strung on poles because they are bound to provide the latest technology, currently being fiber in ground. There is a criteria of a minimum customer-base of 50 residences, or 50 potential customers which Steelhead falls well within. Most importantly is the criteria in which there are no cable providers servicing our area. As well, current broadband service providers cannot reach us due to our topographical issues in Steelhead (mountains and trees) which cannot accommodate the point-to-site requirements of broadband.
Unfortunately, the proposed build list sets Steelhead about half way down the queue, which is many years and future proposals down the road. We plan to canvass the support of our local MP and MLA appealing that Steelhead should be at the top of the build list because we meet and exceed the criteria required to be on this build list, but as well, being that we are within the Lower Mainland thereby establishing strong financial argument, or even a safety argument due to the fact that cellular service is not available here, and we live in a one-road-in-and-out forested community surrounded by recreation, etc. We should have a better idea of where we stand on this issue by mid to late summer. Any info or feedback would be great!
Jana Tennant
