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BC Government To Provide More Funding This Year to Connect Rural Communities Throughout BC
Friday, January 22, 2016Company Profile | Follow Company
Vancouver, BC, January 22, 2016--(T-Net)--BC is set to become one of the most connected places in the world.
Connecting British Columbia is a new $10M, multi-year grant program to provide 100% high-speed connectivity to communities in rural and remote areas of the province.
The second wave of funding and more than $1.1M will benefit 80 communities, http://ow.ly/WLKij
More than $1.1 million in grants for a second wave of nine projects funded through the provincewide Connecting British Columbia program will benefit more than 80 B.C. communities located in rural and remote areas of the province by improving access to high-speed Internet.
Connecting British Columbia is a $10-million, multi-year grant program administered on behalf of the Province by Northern Development Initiative Trust that helps to pay for infrastructure required to deliver high-speed Internet connectivity to homes and businesses in rural locations throughout British Columbia.
A total of $5.8 million in Connecting British Columbia funding for eight projects benefiting 70 communities was provided in the first wave of grants last year.
B.C. is on track to meet its goal of 100% high-speed connectivity before 2021 by providing 94% of British Columbians with access to high-speed Internet. This makes B.C. one of the most connected jurisdictions in the world, according to the government.
“Government has enabled dozens of rural and remote British Columbia communities with access to the high-speed Internet people need to learn, train, do business, find services and stay connected. This is a direct reflection of our commitment to ensuring 100% high-speed connectivity is available in every area of the province before 2021.” said Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services Amrik Virk.
“To date, Northern Development Initiative Trust has administered nearly $7 million in Connecting British Columbia grants to communities across the province. These funds will ensure that local or regional Internet services providers and other organizations can expand and extend high-speed Internet services to communities in every region of the province.” stated Northern Development Initiative Trust CEO Janine North.
Quick Facts:
To ensure high-speed Internet connections in communities and cellular access along highways is available to citizens living in rural and remote areas, the Province works closely with other levels of government and the private sector, including large and small Internet service providers, to offer a number of connectivity programs and services including:
Learn more:
Internet in B.C.: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/information-technology/internet-in-bc
BC Broadband Satellite Initiative factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/factsheet-bc-broadband-satellite-initiative
Connecting BC grant program: http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/funding-programs/business-development/connecting-british-columbia/
Pathways to Technology: http://www.pathwaystotechnology.ca/
Connecting British Columbia Agreement with Telus:http://about.telus.com/community/english/about_us/for_our_customers/connecting_bc_program
Media Contacts
Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
250 387-0172
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