VICTORIA — The government of British Columbia announced Friday the awarding of provincial funding to CityWest and Shaw Communications for broadband projects that will help deliver improved Internet connectivity to people living in several B.C. coastal communities.
The broadband improvement projects are part of the province’s $1.5-billion “StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan” which was announced in September 2020. At that time, the B.C. government expanded its Connecting British Columbia program with a $90-million grant to encourage investment in broadband and cellular infrastructure in rural and Indigenous communities throughout B.C.
On Friday, the B.C. government announced Internet service provider CityWest will receive $10.3 million in grants from the Connecting British Columbia program for six coastal projects, which will enhance connectivity for more than 2,800 households in places such as Whaletown, Granite Bay and Four Mile, as well as communities within the territories of the Haida Nation, Nuxalk Nation, Ehattesaht First Nation and Klahoose First Nation.
CityWest is also one of the proponents behind Connected Coast Network, a $45.4-million investment in coastal connectivity funded in part by the Connecting British Columbia program. (We told you recently here about the changes and challenges with the Connected Coast project, which is bringing fibre connectivity to communities on Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and between Prince Rupert and Vancouver.)
The B.C. government also announced last week the Connecting British Columbia program is helping Shaw Communications improve Internet performance for people living on Mayne, Pender and Galiano islands with a grant up to $341,100 toward project costs.
Some of the other communities which will benefit from the B.C. government’s connectivity investments, made as part of its economic recovery plan, include Cortes Island, Bella Coola, Skidegate, Zeballos, Quadra Island, Masset, Queen Charlotte, Seaford and Bold Point, says the B.C. government’s press release.
The B.C. government says it continues to welcome ISPs’ applications to the Connecting British Columbia program’s economic recovery intake.
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