Minister Reinforces Commitment to Improving High Speed Internet Access

The Provincial Government is strongly committed and has a clearly defined approach to improving high speed Internet access in the province over the course of its mandate. In response to uninformed criticisms by the Third Party, the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development today (Monday, December 10) highlighted the level of significant Provincial Government investments in high speed Internet access in the province.

Provincial Government investments totalling $27 million that have levered more than $115 million from other sources have resulted in the number of communities with access to high speed Internet increasing by 312 per cent since 2003.

“The Third Party clearly has not taken the time to understand how Canada’s telecommunications operates nor seen the considerable progress that has been made in improving high speed Internet access in recent years in all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Minister Hutchings. “The telecommunications sector is federally regulated and within that environment this administration has provided incentives for carriers to deliver access where the business case is not strong enough for them to make investments by themselves. It is an approach that has led to more than 470 communities having access representing approximately 85 per cent of the population and 95 per cent in Labrador.”

In December 2011, the Provincial Government announced $7 million in investments that levered another $23 million from other sources. These investments are helping Internet Service Providers address capacity issues in Labrador and create broadband access in more than 20 communities in the Northern Peninsula and in the western, central, southern, and eastern regions of the province.

The 2012 Rural Broadband Initiative call for proposals closed on November 2, 2012. In this year’s call, the use of cellular technologies, along with fibre, satellite, wireless, and fixed wireless are all allowable options in creating greater broadband access.

“Comments made today by the Third Party in the House of Assembly clearly demonstrate that they are not in tune with the Provincial Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative and the range of technologies being considered,” said Minister Hutchings. “If they were, they would see the scope of what is being considered and that wireless technology is a possible option.

“Through this year’s Rural Broadband Initiative, we are currently working with industry, community, and government partners to identify areas where Provincial Government support could serve as an incentive for carriers to improve access to high speed Internet. In the coming weeks we will be looking to announce the successful submissions and continue to build on the progress achieved to date.”

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

2012 12 10                                5:45 p.m.