History of the initiative
Date |
Action |
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May 2006 |
Government announces Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia Initiative In a speech from the throne, the government announces that every Nova Scotian will have broadband access by the year 2010. Most areas will have wireless technology. The Initiative will begin with a pilot project. |
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September 2006 |
Broadband Initiative begins with a pilot project High-speed Internet service is available to 72% of Nova Scotian communities, which is about 80 per cent of the population. This leaves 200,000 Nova Scotians, 93,500 dwellings, 213 schools, and 5,600 businesses without broadband service. The rural communities from Tidnish to Port Howe, in a 15 km radius, are chosen for a pilot project that will look at ways to bring affordable high-speed Internet service to rural areas. The province invests $430,000, and works with the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association and people from the community. The province sends out a request for proposals to find a private sector company to run the pilot project. |
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January 2007 |
High-speed broadband expansion begins Seaside Communications of Sydney, Cape Breton is chosen to run the pilot project. Other communities begin to get service this year. All areas of Nova Scotia will have access by the end of 2009. [1] Fixed wireless technology is chosen for most areas. |
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June 2007 |
Broadband service providers invited to get in the zone The pilot project is complete and shows that rural communities can get reliable service at about the same price as areas that already have access. Nova Scotia is divided into 7 zones [link to map showing zones] based on the number of places that need service. The province sends out a request for proposals for private companies to provide high-speed service to the rest of Nova Scotia. Service providers will be able to use public property and services such as towers, Crown land, mapping and demographic data as they build the network. |
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October 2007 |
Ottawa to help fund Nova Scotia's Broadband Initiative The federal government announces that it will pay 50% of the eligible public sector costs. The goal is to make Nova Scotia the most connected area in North America.
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December 2007 |
Province awards contracts for internet providers Contracts for zones 1-6 [link to map showing zones] go to Seaside Communications and EastLink B Bragg Communications Inc. Contract for zone 7 B Halifax Regional Municipality which includes 45 rural communities B will be awarded separately. Seaside Communications will serve Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness, Richmond, Victoria, and Cape Breton counties. EastLink will serve Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis, Kings, and Hants counties. Cost to provide service to all of Nova Scotia is $74.5 million: provincial - $19.6 million; federal B $14.5 million; companies $40.4 million. |
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February 2008 |
Province calls for proposals to cover the 45 rural areas of HRM The province put out a request for proposals for private companies to provide high-speed service to the 45 communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality that don't have it yet. |
[1] Fixed wireless sends the signal through a receiver box that is attached to the building. A cable brings the signal indoors to the computer or wireless router.
A cable modem sends a data signal through cables used for cable television.
DSL or Digital Subscriber Loop or Line sends digital data over local telephone wires.