Spreading Broadband Access to Communities in Victoria County

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Spreading Broadband Access to Communities in Victoria County

A new funding agreement between the Municipality of Victoria County and the provincial government will help Nova Scotia keep its lead as one of the most connected provinces. The agreement will help bring advanced broadband technology and improved Internet access to more than 20 communities throughout the county.

The province is investing $100,000 as part of the Victoria County project known as Broadband Solutions for Rural Development. Phase one of the project will bring DSL broadband technology to communities that currently are without high-speed Internet access.

The province's investment is being made through matching funding under Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) pilot program. That program deploys broadband to unserved or under-served rural communities.

"BRAND offers the best option for encouraging other investments that help to extend basic broadband service into rural Nova Scotia," said Economic Development Minister Ernest Fage. "That kind of Internet access helps Nova Scotia maintain its status as one of the most connected provinces, so look for us to sign more agreements for matching BRAND funding in other areas in the near future."

The province has also invested $170,000 in BRAND projects in the Strait area and Cumberland County.

The provincial government investment in these three projects has helped to leverage about $5.9 million from other public and private sector funding sources.

"The provincial investment will help us complete the first phase of our plan to make broadband an essential part of our infrastructure and an important tool for growing and sustaining our rural economy," said Wayne Budge, warden, Municipality of Victoria County.

"Our municipal broadband team has been extremely busy preparing to implement the business plan and we are delighted to be able to officially announce that implementation has begun," said Dan MacNeil, chair and deputy warden, Municipality of Victoria County.

The county's broadband plan includes three phases which are expected to be completed in three to five years. Phase one of the plan is the BRAND part of the project. Under this phase, Aliant will set up 11 switches to deploy the technology that will bring high-speed access to the Internet to the additional communities.

Victoria County is currently hosting Atlantic Canada's leading information technology conference. The two-day Connecting Communities -- The Rural Challenge, concludes today, Nov. 9, in Baddeck.

"Community leaders and champions from Atlantic Canada and Ontario are sharing ideas and knowledge at this conference on broadband infrastructure, applications and engagement," said Tom Wilson, conference chair and co-ordinator of Victoria County's broadband project.

For more information on the BRAND phase of the project, see the county's broadband website at www.connectedcommunities.ca .