More high-speed Internet coming, in two years

NEWS/ INTERNET — High-speed Internet is coming to 2,821 homes in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding — but not for two more years.

MP Cathy McLeod announced the service today (Monday), the latest in a series of promises to increase high-speed Internet access.

She said it’s part of the government’s commitment to connect 280,000 more households in rural and remote regions with minimum speeds of five megabits per second (Mbps). Much of the work will be completed by 2017, she said.

The Conservatives asked for feedback last summer, and then Industry Canada invited Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to submit proposals for funding under a program called Connecting Canadians to build wireless or wired infrastructure.

McLeod said the government will partner with dozens of Internet service providers to build wireless or wired infrastructure across the country.

“By Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, over 98 percent of Canadian households will be able to subscribe to new or improved high-speed Internet services, delivering on the Harper Government’s commitment to Canadians.”

Minister of Industry James Moore said today’s announcement is “the next important phase” in extending high-speed Internet to rural areas.

“Providing Canadians with access to high-speed Internet for learning, business opportunities and so much more is key to creating a more connected, digital Canada,” Moore said.

The press release includes a list of general areas in which the work will be done, though no specifics on street or road areas. Two hundred thirty-nine households are listed for Barriere, 409 for Kamloops, 96 One Hundred Mile House, 217for Electoral Area O and 282 for Area P.

The Connecting Canadians program, in which $305 million is to be invested, was first announced a year ago.