By Christy Marsters
Hants Journal
Those in Hants County still waiting for access to high–speed Internet can now expect this service to be available by the end of May.
Eastlink spokesperson Jill Laing said although towers providing fixed wireless Internet should be powered and on air by the end of May, being connected onto the service could take longer.
Crews will be out connecting customers for some time after May, Laing said.
“We encourage anybody who wants high–speed Internet to call EastLink’s Customer Care Department at 1-888-345-1111 to confirm current availability in their area and book an installation,” she said.
Initially, EastLink was to provide all rural areas in Hants County with access to high–speed Internet by the end of 2009. The deadline was one of the stipulations set in the company’s five-year contract with the provincial government to give all areas within Nova Scotia affordable high-speed Internet entry.
Seaside Wireless and OmniGlobe Networks had also signed similar contracts to help cover other sections of Nova Scotia through the provincial government’s $75 million Broadband for Rural N.S. Initiative.
Getting high-speed Internet to rural Nova Scotians is an extremely complex initiative involving many stakeholders, Laing said, “and several previously planned co-location towers were changed to the new build category that’s slowed our progress somewhat in those areas.”
To date towers in Lower Burlington, Woodville, Pembroke, Bramber, Centre Rawdon and East Hants are on air. Towers in Shubenacadie, Lower Selma, Maple Grove, Noel Lake, East Walton, Barr Settlement and Hemlock Hill are built yet still require power and connectivity.
The construction of a tower in Martock is now underway. Approvals for construction of towers in Ardoise and Enfield are in place. All towers are to be on air by March 31.
“This is an important project for EastLink and one we take very seriously,” Laing said. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of residents within Hants County, as we roll out high-speed Internet services in this area.”
Hants-West MLA Chuck Porter said people have been waiting for this project and for many in businesses this access to high-speed Internet is vital to success.
“We encourage anybody who wants high–speed Internet to call EastLink’s Customer Care Department at 1-888-345-1111 to confirm current availability in their area and book an installation."” - Eastlink spokesperson Jill Laing
“Our government put this project in place as a top priority,” Porter said. “For me [the project] very much is.”
“I’ve got a lot of constituents looking for the service,” Porter added. “This was intended to be complete by the end of 2009 … now they’re saying May.”
Porter has filed an access to information request, under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to find: “Total amount of fines, if any, levied against Seaside Cable and EastLink Cable, as a result of the government’s $75-million Broadband Initiative and the contract stipulation requiring them to have high-speed Internet connected by Dec. 31, 2009 to communities and areas they were contracted to serve.”
A response to his access to information request is expected by the end of this month.
People deserve and should have access to high–speed Internet in this century, Porter said. “We should be up to speed, it’s not that hard.”
Project director Nancy Flam, with the Broadband for Rural N.S. Initiative, said Nova Scotia is the first to implement a project of this size.
“I think we have been doing remarkably well in the project,” Flam said. “I feel good ... because we’ve all worked as hard as we could.”
Flam said Nova Scotia is taking a leadership role and is being proactive with this project, which will aid in attracting new businesses, help students in studies and give people access to information from around the world.
“I think it’s critical people have the option for access to high-speed Internet,” she added.
The Internet touches everything we do, Flam said. “It’s expected that people have it.”
Cost for the service, once it becomes available, will be $46.95 a month plus taxes and $99.95 plus taxes for installation.
In urban areas, the lowest high-speed service is $47.95 a month.
