B.C. Interior communities can begin applying for high-speed internet funding

“Having access to the internet is a human right. Education is connected to it, health care is connected to it,” said Parliamentary Secretary for rural development Ravi Kahlon. “There’s a gentleman named Roger that has a nursery farm near 100 Mile who came to the announcement and he told me that this was a game-changer for his community. Last year, we were able to get internet access to his nursery and now his market isn’t just local. Now, it’s a global market.”

The program was started in 2015 by the Liberals, which first invested $10 million before adding $40 million to the pot. Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar says this will allow communities to finish ‘the last mile’ in connecting to high-speed internet.

“As we saw starting in 2015, $50 million has already gone in. It’s done a lot of great work,” said Milobar. “This $50 million, to go in conjunction with the federal government program of $750 million should help continue to address that and hopefully it covers off a lot more communities.”

The provincial government says if communities are ready to put forward proposals, there’s a good chance they will be approved.

by Chad Klassen

B.C. Interior communities can begin applying for high-speed internet funding

Our Community