Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development
December 22, 2009
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.
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