Significant Progress Made in Improving High Speed Internet Access

The number of communities with high speed Internet access has increased by nearly 400 per cent since 2003, said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, in response to inaccurate statements made by the Official Opposition in a news release.

Minister Skinner said that in a little more than six years, the Provincial Government�s deliberate approach to improving the province�s communications capacity has led to significant increases in connectivity. In 2009, close to 450 communities, representing 85 per cent of the population, have access to high speed Internet � up from 114 communities in 2003.

�Dating back to our early days as a government, we recognized that immediate action was
required to address a communications deficit we inherited from the previous administration that was impairing the province�s development,� said Minister Skinner. �We recognized that improved access to high speed Internet would open doors to the world for our academic and business communities and residents, and would enhance our ability to offer improved government services.�

This progress has been made within the confines of the federally-regulated communications sector. As provincial governments are not able to deliver residential services, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to create an environment where it is more feasible for communications carriers to offer services in those areas where service is not available.

�For the Official Opposition to claim that we promised residential high speed Internet access and to request that we deliver such service clearly shows their lack of understanding of how the communications industry is regulated and operated,� said Minister Skinner. �Our commitment has been to improving the province�s communications capacity. With stringent guidelines in place overseeing Canada�s communications sector, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has had to work strategically and invest wisely.�

�Our investments under the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI) and Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) levered $50 million from the Federal Government and our private partners and greatly improved access,� said Minister Skinner. �Additionally, the fall 2007 completion of the province�s second trans-gulf fibre optic network enabled � for the first time � competition in the provincial communications industry. It has directly led to substantial investment in the province and new services being offered.�

Currently, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is taking steps to build and manage an advanced communications network that enables it to take ownership of its communications requirements. Through this network, more than 1,000 of the Provincial Government�s facilities will be connected. This new network will further enable the ability of communications carriers to offer similar services to local residential and business customers.

�Within our network, a communications carrier or carriers will have much greater access to advanced broadband infrastructure and be able to do more with it,� said Minister Skinner. �They will be able to build off our network and roll out residential services. Once fully in place, close to 95 per cent of the province will have access to this important technology.�

As a government, departments and agencies are currently spending more than $25 million per year on telecommunications services. This project will enable the Provincial Government to divert that spending towards this new system and in doing so offer increased government services to the public.

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca 

2009 12 22                                                    3:25 p.m.