Despite the copious self-congratulatory stories that have recently been printed in the Observer, it appears that the city, the Economic Development Society, Telus and Shaw have collaborated to create a virtual ghetto in our community.
While the northeast, northwest and southeast areas of Salmon Arm enjoy the high-speed Internet services of one and often both service providers, the largely farming area in the southwest has no wired Internet service. The southwest of the city is an Internet wasteland despite having a population density similar to the northwest.
It’s ironic that the farmers who have long provided wealth, nutrition and economic stability to the city have been designated by the community leaders to be part of an underprivileged small minority citizens with no wired Internet service.
It will be interesting to hear how the candidates seeking election to local government will ensure this Internet inequity is quickly rectified. The candidates that take this issue seriously will certainly get our votes.
Robin Hickman
