Minister pleased with NewTel's initiative to provide 
local Internet access to an additional 300 communities in the province

Judy Foote, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, today applauded NewTel's initiative which will bring local Internet access to an additional 300 communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. NewTel announced today that this initiative will provide as many as 450 communities throughout the province with Internet services, and will be eliminating long distance charges currently associated with accessing the Internet.

"This is an important initiative in the economic development of rural Newfoundland and Labrador," said Ms. Foote. "With increased access to the Internet, the residents of this province are provided with a forum to participate in the global marketplace. With ready access to information worldwide, no longer should location be a hindrance to economic development. The technology is there, and we are in a position to take advantage of it."

Ms. Foote participated in a news conference held this morning at NewTel's Allandale Road Technology Centre where company president and CEO Vince Withers made the announcement.

"Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are in the lead when it comes to using the Internet," continued the minister. "Almost one in five homes in this province now has a personal computer, and in 1995 Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province with full Internet access in all schools in the province. This province is shown to have the fastest growing Internet use in the country. Today's announcement will encourage use of the Internet, particularly in rural communities which before today, had to pay long distance charges for every minute they were logged on to the Information Highway.

"With hundreds of more communities online, it will now be easier for each of the province's 20 economic zones to interact with each other. Each of the zones will become more empowered as they learn from each other and work towards their common goal of a revitalized economy in each of their regions. NewTel's provision of Internet services at no long-distance charge to the consumer will undoubtedly result in a constant and continuous exchange of information as we all work towards revitalizing the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador," concluded Ms. Foote.

Contact: Susan Laite, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4570.