History

In 2002, the Province made a commitment to bridge the digital divide in British Columbia.  The commitment followed a recommendation by the Premier’s Technology Council to expand services to rural and remote areas, based on public demand.

The original goal was to ensure access to high-speed Internet in B.C. communities that had a school, a library or a health care facility.

The commitment was renewed and expanded in 2006 based on the Premier’s Technology Council 6th report, which recommended that government:

• Assist communities that had access to the Internet, but no local infrastructure to distribute the service to homes and businesses; and
• Assist First Nations to bridge the digital divide in their communities--many in remote areas that presented particular challenges to accessing Internet services.

Between 2002 and 2005, the Province established partnerships, agreements and programs that created the environment for service expansion.  Since 2005, this has resulted in 93 per cent of the population having access to high-speed Internet services. The seven per cent of citizens who remain unconnected are primarily on the outskirts of connected communities or in rural or remote areas where populations are small or dispersed, making access to Internet services expensive and challenging.

In 2011, the Province announced plans to make services more accessible to citizens and engage citizens in government decision-making through open government and open data. Internet connectivity is a key component of ensuring citizens can take advantage of government’s openness and accessibility. 

In addition, the Province signed the Connecting British Columbia Agreement with TELUS on July 29, 2011. This Agreement ensures the Province can maintain levels of connectivity achieved under previous agreements while maintaining and improving high-speed Internet connections for citizens and businesses in rural and remote B.C. and providing much-needed new cellular coverage along major sections of highways.  The connectivity leveraged under this Agreement, in conjunction with other partnerships, agreements and programs will continue to increase the percentage of citizens and businesses in B.C. who can access information and services for economic development, health, education and public safety.