Internet access in the South Cariboo is expensive often slow with generally low data caps, leaving much to be desired.
On April 6, the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ services and the Northern Development Initiative Trust announced $621,942, half from the B.C. government and half from ABC Communications, to enable faster internet speeds for 2,700 residences in the South Cariboo.
Certainly, for many, this will be welcome news. According to ABC Communications, available package speeds will be up to 15 Mbps. Currently, the package that offers up to 15 Mbps costs $149.95 per month with a 250 GB data cap. In comparison, in Kamloops, there are packages available at $82 per month for 150 Mbps up with a 1,000 GB data cap.
Now to be clear, there’s no complaint here about ABC Communications. The investment being made here is nothing to sniff at; 100 Mile House, Lone Butte, Gateway, Canim Lake, Sheridan Lake, Interlakes and Horse Lake is a massive geographical area and the effort by ABC Communications and the Province should be commended, but there is a real headscratcher here.
At the end of 2016, the CRTC ruled that broadband internet, with speeds of at least 50 Mbps up and unlimited data options, from that point forward were considered a “basic telecom service,” with the goal of having access to those services for 90 per cent of Canadian homes and small business by 2021.
The announcement also included a new $750 million fund spread over five years focussed on underserved areas. With the funding from ABC Communications and the Province through NDIT, this would be an opportunity as good as any for the CRTC to join in to bring the kind of services to the South Cariboo that, according to the CRTC, are “basic.” Obviously, if they set a 2021 goal in their 2016 announcement, you’d think they’d want to start making progress quickly.
Apparently not. After contacting the CRTC, the Free Press was told “It was also determined that the CRTC would launch a public consultation in 2017 to develop the broadband funding regime. Once the public consultation has concluded, the CRTC will be able to implement the funding regime. The funding regime will likely not be implemented before the end of 2018. The application process for funding would then take place after the funding regime is operational.
For the CRTC funding regime, applicants will be required to secure a minimum level of financial support from a government entity and to provide a minimum amount of investment in their project to qualify.”
The obvious reality here is that many rural communities and provincial governments are going to pay the price for the sluggish pace of these consultations. Either rural communities will have to wait with bringing (improved) internet to rural customers in order to ensure they’ll still have funding available to qualify later or they’ll have to install inferior systems now only to provide additional funding in subsequent years to upgrade.
Regardless of which option is chosen, the delay in funding will undoubtedly mean slower growth for rural areas, ranging from slow or no internet meaning big city folk can’t move to rural areas and work remotely, local businesses being less competitive online or your family member or friend who makes handcrafted items, whether they’re knitted sweaters or wood furniture, not being able to manage an online store.
