For the last number of years, Tumbler Ridge has been working on getting better internet connectivity to the community.
While Telus’ DSL provides speeds up to 75 mbps—well over the minimum target of 50 mbps set by the CRTC—it is not available everywhere in town.
In the last two years, the District has had conversations with both Telus and Canadian Fibre Optics about bringing fibre connections to the town. While those discussions are still underway, they’re not getting anywhere fast.
Telus was willing to cover the majority of the cost to bring fibre to Tumbler Ridge, but asked that the District pitch in about $900,000 to help cover the estimated $6-million cost of building a redundant fibre line into the community.
Instead of jumping on that deal, Council asked staff to issue an RFP for internet services in Tumbler Ridge.
A year later, the RFP still hasn’t been issued.
Now the Peace River Regional District is working on trying to get a piece of the $830-million the provincial and federal government has earmarked for better rural connectivity, and rather than working with a partner, they are looking at setting up their own Internet Provider.
“High-speed connectivity is a top-of-mind issue for many in our region, including the residents and businesses of Tumbler Ridge,” says Brad Sperling, Chair of the PRRD board. “The PRRD conducted a needs assessment from January to April 2020 of the Electoral Areas (B, C, D and E) to gauge rural connectivity.”
The findings of that assessment resulted in the development of the Fibre Working Group (FWG) in the fall of 2020, who presented the final strategy to the Board in November 2021.
“The Request to Participate (RTP) that the PRRD is submitting to the Province is part of the Regional Connectivity Strategy, but the data we are hoping to collect will represent the entire Peace region, including Tumbler Ridge,” says Sperling.“Our goal is to capture as much information as possible to ensure that we are sending an accurate picture to the Province as part of the Connecting Communities BC plan.”
The PRRD is asking all residents and businesses to complete the CIRA Internet Speed Test and Connecting Communities Survey before April 22. Access to the Speed Test and the survey is through the PRRD website, at prrd.bc.ca.
“The data is crucial as we work with the Governments of Canada to close the digital divide and help communities access diversified economic opportunities.”
The minimum target speed set by the CRTC for Canadians is 50 mbps down and 10 up, but connectivity demand is expected to increase beyond the 50/10 target. “Despite multiple grant funding programs being developed to upgrade or establish broadband infrastructure, the challenges to connect are still an obstacle for many residents. To overcome this divide, local governments must take an active role in the deployment of Broadband Infrastructure in their communities.”
On March 9, the Government of Canada and the Government of BC announced $830 million in funding to improve access to high-speed internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia.
Under the plan, both levels of governments would contribute up to $415 million, for a total combined funding of $830 million to connect the entire province of British Columbia.
The goal is to connect 98 percent of Canadians by 2026, and 100 percent by 2030. With this announcement, BC is hoping to have 100 percent of BC communities connected by 2027.
In addition to the discussions with Telus and Canadian Fibre Optics, the District signed a contract with the Peace Region Internet Society in 2019 to bring high speed to town, contingent on funding from the Connecting British Columbia grant.
That fell apart when the new PRIS board decided to refocus their energy on Dawson Creek, leaving Tumbler Ridge hanging.
While Tumbler Ridge has yet to get fibre to the doorstep, Starlink started delivering satellite internet to Tumbler Ridge earlier in the year, for people not willing to wait for fibre.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
