Bridging the Digital Divide

1. What is the digital divide?

In B.C.'s smaller towns and communities, Internet connection speed and level of service is vastly different than in larger centers. The "Digital Divide" is the gap between those British Columbians with access to the new technology - including skills training, computers and broadband Internet access - and those without.

Currently, 92 percent of British Columbians have access to broadband service. The remaining eight percent are in rural and remote areas.

2. What is broadband? How is it an improvement over the Internet access some of these communities already have?

Broadband technology refers to high-speed Internet access, which makes it possible to send text, video and voice by cable, digital subscriber line, fibre optics or wireless connections.

Broadband eliminates waiting for dial-up connections and greatly improves the efficiency and ease of using the Internet.

3. Why is it important to bridge the divide?

The importance of broadband Internet and the infrastructure to run it is on a par with that of the railroads of the 19th century or the highways of the 20th century. Network BC wants people in rural, remote and First Nations communities to have the same access to the benefits of technology as people in urban centers - bringing big city opportunities to rural and remote communities. This will mean better education, health and job opportunities especially for people living in rural communities.

4. How were "communities" identified for the purpose of bridging the digital divide?

The definition of what constitutes a community - a place with a public school, library or healthcare facility - was determined by the Premier's Technology Council (PTC).

When the PTC first recommended to government that the province bridge the digital divide in B.C., it was clear that a definition was required to establish some parameters from which to begin.

These criteria resulted in a list of 366 communities, 151 of which did not have access to connectivity when the project began.

Identifying schools as part of the primary definition of community means that all provincial settlements will be within relatively easy traveling distance of a community with broadband. Internet access is also available through provincial libraries and other public access sites.

5. What about communities not part of the list of 366? When will they get connected?

Having access to a broadband connection is an important part of life in the 21st century and 92 per cent of British Columbians have access to broadband - making B.C. one of the most connected province in Canada.

The Premier’s Technology Council 11th report, dated June 2008, recommends "That government continue to address the broadband challenges for British Columbians."

Taking the report recommendations into consideration, the Province will continue to work with its stakeholders, including all communities, telecommunications service providers and all levels of government to address the digital divide for citizens who remain unserved.

6. What formal partnerships has government entered to bridge the divide?

Formal partnerships to increase broadband access do more than enhance personal communication; they facilitate the delivery of new educational, healthcare and other services, thereby revitalizing rural communities by enabling people to live in their local communities and participate in the global knowledge economy.

Two significant partnerships have helped to address access in many unserved communities:

A partnership between the Province and TELUS has resulted in technology upgrades and new community connections. One of the agreements the Province and TELUS have signed is called the Connecting Communities Agreement. This agreement:

• brought affordable high-speed open network access to 119 of the 151 communities identified as unconnected when the project began;
• provided affordable access for unserved communities to open network access points in each community;
• provided support from the Province to connect the open network access service to a community Internet service provider location;
• provided a very cost effective "utility" pricing model in communities that are currently unserved to enable local Internet service providers to offer services to homes and businesses at scalable cost per user per month; and
• ensured pricing for high-speed open network access (10Mbps plus) in all provincial communities based on price for similar services in the Lower Mainland.

Another important partnership is the National Satellite Initiative. The federal and provincial governments have partnered to achieve satellite connectivity in 29 communities. An additional 3 communities have been connected through other federal partnerships.

The outcome of these partnerships is affordable access to broadband for the 151 communities and new opportunities to revitalize rural communities by enabling people to live in their local communities and participate in the global knowledge economy.

The Province will continue to promote and encourage local Internet service providers to take advantage of affordable Internet access and provide last mile services to homes and businesses.

7. How long will it take to bridge the digital divide?

Through various means, including the Connecting Communities Agreement between Province and TELUS, and the National Satellite Initiative, the Province has facilitated access to connectivity for the majority of the 366 communities and has encouraged expansion of last mile service. To date, more than 320 of the communities have last mile service in place, up from 135 when the project began.

Network BC will continue to work with its stakeholders, including all communities, telecommunications service providers and all levels of government to encourage last mile service and address digital divide issues for the remaining population.

8. When will my community have access to broadband Internet?

You can view the Schedule of Community Connections for a complete schedule of when communities will be connected. Once connected, local Internet service providers will have improved opportunities to offer last mile services to homes and businesses.

9. How do small communities go about getting their communities connected?

Under the National Satellite Initiative, designated communities unable to benefit from the Connecting Communities Agreement can access affordable satellite service. Contact Network BC for more details:

Under the Connecting Communities Agreement, open network access has been brought to 119 communities. From there the community or an Internet service provider has the opportunity to make the last mile connection and offer services to homes and businesses.

10. How will bridging the digital divide change healthcare for people living in remote communities?

It is well known that the health outcomes for rural and remote citizens lag behind the rest of the population. The introduction of broadband can mean better access to information about healthcare, a better decision-making process for health management, and faster access to physicians, specialists and other health care providers.

11. What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver health services over distance.

Telehealth has existed since the introduction of the telegraph, but new technology has expanded the possibilities for its use in medicine.

Exciting tools such as tele-radiology, tele-psychiatry and the medical use of video conferencing are only available if a broadband infrastructure is in place.

12. How will improved Internet links in schools help students with their learning?

Learners in rural communities often must travel outside their communities to seek education. Of particular concern is Aboriginal students, because for those who have to leave their communities to finish high school, the graduation rate is very low.

Making affordable broadband available in these communities provides the option for learners to stay in their communities to complete high school on line or to take part in post secondary or mid-career education courses through the Internet.

With broadband access, students and educators in rural communities can access state-of-the-art electronic educational tools.

Through the technology of high-speed links, the teacher can lecture in one location, while using a two-way video conferencing system to connect with students elsewhere.

Having access to the full curriculum enriches the educational experience for students, and can better prepare them for a post-secondary education.

13. What benefit does having high-speed broadband Internet provide to rural or remote communities when they are suffering from a downturn in the resource economy?

High-speed broadband Internet offers new opportunities to small communities. It allows existing businesses to grow or diversify, expanding their market for products and services by taking advantage of the Internet reach.

Communities can also create or expand eco-tourism businesses, and are able to market their area's natural beauty worldwide through Internet sites which offer photos, video and sound.

There are many additional benefits to communities that have high-speed broadband Internet access:

• Improved access to health care.
• Improved access to education and online learning.
• Improved access to services from both the federal and provincial governments.