High-Speed Internet for the Rural Shuswap
Shuswap Economic Development Society Release
Shuswap Economic Development Society continues to focus on long-term economic development in the Shuswap. An initial project is the development of Fibre Optic Internet (Broadband) access in Electoral Areas C,D,E,F and G of the CSRD. The underserved homes in these areas will benefit from improved phone and internet access, which is limited at this time.
The vision is for a Community-Owned, Community Governed Open-Access fibre infrastructure to service ~2,000 households with high-speed Fibre to the Home to connect 16 communities and provide the opportunity to enjoy easy online access to the world for education, social needs, business opportunities and working from home. The communities who will benefit from Fibre to the Home (FTTH) include 16 communities in CSRD Areas C, D, E, F, and G.
Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS) proceeded with testing internet speeds and the results showed there are underserved areas in the rural Shuswap. A decision was made to engage I-Valley, a very experienced not-for-profit association who is collaborating with many communities in Canada to bring world-best broadband solutions to our communities. They assisted with the application to Connecting Communities BC for funding to build a system to serve the underserved areas of the Shuswap. A funding application for $30 million was submitted to Connecting Communities BC (CCBC) on February 15, 2023. SEDS is waiting for approval of the application.
Community partners have been engaged to form a Co-Op as the founding members of the Rural Shuswap Broadband Corporation. The business model is to build an open access system which can be leased by multiple service providers. This provides the end-user with multiple choices at better prices. There are advantages to community owned e.g. direct control of services and prices. The long-term return on investment and revenue streams stay in the community. Community ownership provides economic development and employment opportunities, and the involvement of Indigenous, municipal, and individual participation in a Co-Op model.
Under this model, the network will be managed by a Network Operator on behalf of the Co Op (infrastructure provider) who will govern the Network Operator. The Network Operator will lease out the infrastructure to Internet Service providers as a revenue source to the Co-Op, who owns the infrastructure and provides members of associated communities and entities an opportunity to invest in the initiative.
A successful community owned broadband network is Kaslo, BC, home to less than 1,000 inhabitants, and possibly, the world’s smallest community-controlled, fibre-enabled internet network. In contrast, I-Valley is working with Pictou County, NS, Canada’s largest rural network. Other examples of community owned are Vermillion Alberta, the Connected Coast provides access for 97 rural, remote, and Indigenous communities north of Prince Rupert, along Vancouver Island up to Haida Gwaii.
Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS) is looking for people in the rural Shuswap who are motivated to work together to attract investment and residents to the communities they live in, to be board members. Be part of the vision to expand opportunities to local businesses and potential investment in your community. Email info@shuswapecdev.ca or visit the website https://shuswapecdev.ca to fill out the application.
SEDS has task forces to promote increased health care services, to promote agriculture opportunities, improve infrastructure and implement the investment and attraction strategy completed in May 2024. If you have an interest and would like to contribute email info@shuswapecdev.ca to participate in building economic development in your community. Together we can build a strong economic future for our rural communities.
We wish best wishes for 2025 and Happy Holidays to all.
