Province to help fund broadband project in Humber Valley

The provincial government will provide funding to a regional economic development board in Western Newfoundland to assist with the development of a high speed Internet service for the region. The Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development will give Humber Valley Net Inc. $57,000 to complement funding the board is receiving from the federal government under the Broadband and Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) initiative.

"Bringing high-speed Internet access to all parts of the province is important to the economic development of the province which is why this government is pleased to provide support to the Humber Valley Net Inc. broadband project," said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

The total cost of the Humber Valley Net Inc. project is $1.1 million. Funding from federal sources will cover approximately 50 per cent of the project cost and the rest is being provided by Aliant, the proponents and the provincial government.

"I am extremely pleased to see further development of this industry in the Humber Valley. High-speed Internet connections are essential for the continued development of the area�s business and education sectors. This initiative will have an extremely positive impact on the region and is an important aspect of government�s plan for the region" said Kathy Goudie, MHA for Humber Valley.

The Broadband and Rural and Northern Development initiative is a $105 million project of Industry Canada to enable community-based broadband demonstration or pilot projects in communities that have no high-speed Internet access. The total costs for the five Round I projects is estimated at $16.4 million. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is also a partner in this initiative.

The Humber Valley Net Inc. is a project of the Humber Economic Development Board which works closely with local development agencies, government and the private sector to identify economic opportunities in the Humber zone. The zone encompasses 35 communities through the Humber Valley, into the City of Corner Brook, and the Bay of Islands.

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-4570

2004 06 16                                       10:55 a.m.