Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
July 11, 2016

Province Expands Broadband Services

Five Communities on the Northern Peninsula Receive Broadband Service

The Provincial Government remains committed to providing leading edge telecommunications services and infrastructure to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. An investment of over $1.3 million has been made to provide rural broadband access for five communities on the Northern Peninsula. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, and Gudie Hutchings, MP for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

Bell Aliant will build a pole line with fibre cable to improve broadband access for the communities of Roddickton, Main Brook and Englee. New access will be provided to Bide Arm and Goose Cove East.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada�s Connecting Canadians Program is contributing approximately $655,000 to the initiative, along with $327,730 from the Provincial Government � $266,963.50 from the Regional Development Fund and $60,766.50 through the Rural Broadband Initiative. Bell Aliant, which will complete the work, is contributing $309,730 and St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI) is investing $18,000, for the community of Goose Cove East.

Rural broadband expansion allows for economic development across the province. To date, the Provincial Government has expanded broadband access to 99 per cent of the province�s population. Launched in 2011, the Provincial Government�s Rural Broadband Initiative provides incentive to telecommunications carriers to expand broadband access into unserved and underserved rural and remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quotes

�The Provincial Government is pleased to see the continued progress being made with the Connecting Canadians Program bringing broadband services to rural communities. This project will support business growth associated with the tourism and small business sectors, while providing residential customers access to the Internet which will allow them to leverage the benefits associated with the digital economy. We are delighted to see this important service provided to these five communities. We look forward to our continued work with industry, community, and government partners to further improve our broadband infrastructure.�
- The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

�Helping to extend high-speed Internet across the country is one of the most important infrastructure investments the Government of Canada can make to help unlock the tremendous potential of our country�s northern and rural regions. By working with partners across the country, the government is helping to deliver increased broadband coverage to underserved areas across Canada. This will provide Canadians with greater employment and business opportunities, better access to online education and e-health, improved communications and media, and increased access to online goods and services.�
� The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

�Faster, more reliable broadband Internet is essential for Canadians in all parts of the country to take advantage of new economic and business opportunities and to connect with friends and family in Canada and abroad. The investment announced today, increases the ability of the businesses and individuals in the Roddickton Region on the Northern Peninsula to participate in the digital economy.�
- Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains

�Since 2011, Bell Aliant�s partnerships with the Government of Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and organizations like St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. has expanded and enhanced high-speed Internet service in rural communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. We�re pleased that our continued investment in projects like this is providing residents and business with access to modern broadband communications and contributing to the economic and social prosperity of these communities.�
- Dan McKeen, Bell Senior Vice President and Vice Chair Bell Aliant

�St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. is a regionally-based non-profit group that supports and advocates for economic expansion and improved employment opportunities that are in harmony with a rural setting and lifestyle for the 16 communities we represent in the St. Anthony region. Through our $18,000 in support, St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. is pleased to be part of ensuring that broadband coverage is extended to the Town of Goose Cove�
- Sam Elliott, Executive Director, St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc.

QUICK FACTS

• An investment of over $1.3 million has been made to provide rural broadband access for five communities on the Northern Peninsula.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada�s Connecting Canadians Program is contributing approximately $655,000 to the initiative, along with $327,730 from the Provincial Government � $266,963.50 from the Regional Development Fund and $60,766.50 through the Rural Broadband Initiative. Bell Aliant, who will complete the work, is contributing $309,730 and St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI) is investing $18,000, for the community of Goose Cove East.
• Launched in 2011, the Provincial Government�s Rural Broadband Initiative provides incentive to telecommunications carriers to expand broadband access into unserved and underserved rural and remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca	Media Relations Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 343-291-1777 ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca
Mark Duggan, Senior Manager, Communications Bell Aliant 709-739-2483	Sam Elliott Executive Director St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. 709-454-3484 www.sabrinl.com

2016 07 11                             1:20 p.m.