Community Update - April 2010

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide First Nations in BC with an update on the work undertaken by All Nations Trust Company over the past few months, and provide a look ahead at the important work of connecting all 203 BC First Nation communities to the Internet. Please note that this project update is from the office of ANTCO and relates to the connectivity work being managed by ANTCO.

Project Funding
ANTCO was awarded $40.8 million by the Province, of which $35.8M is for the purpose of ensuring high-speed Internet connectivity for all 203 First Nations and selected on-reserve health centres.  Our most current information indicates that 80 First Nations in BC currently do not enjoy high speed Internet connectivity.

First Nations Infrastructure Funding (FNIF)
In the fall of 2009 ANTCO submitted a proposal on behalf of the Pathways To Technology steering committee to the First Nations Infrastructure Fund (FNIF).  The basis of the proposal was to blend any FNIF funding with the current project budget so we could guarantee Internet connectivity to all unconnected First Nations and, wherever possible, provide enhanced service to under-served First Nations.  The intent was not to displace applications being submitted by individual communities.  It is ANTCO’s commitment to disburse the entire amount toward Internet connectivity for communities.  It is important to note, however, that these funds will not be made immediately available by INAC: a minority amount of funding will be released in fiscal 2011-12, with the majority of funding following in 2012-13.

Connectivity Construction Work
In late December ANTCO signed a contract with Northwestel to provide Internet service to three northern BC communities.  The community of Iskut has already been connected and residents of the second community will have high-speed broadband available to them later in April!  Two of these communities will also receive an enhanced broadband connection to their health centres which will enable them to run telehealth applications.

A large and complex construction agreement with a major telecommunications provider is nearing completion and we expect to announce this signing in April.  This agreement will permit ANTCO to bring connectivity to all unconnected First Nations communities over the next 3-4 years, with the first work orders rolling out this April.

We thank all First Nations for their patience to date, and encourage you to visit the project website frequently for updates.  The site, which is being redesigned and re-launched in April, is located at www.pathwaystotechnology.ca

Community Update - November 2009

As many First Nations are aware, All Nations Trust Company received a total of $40.8 million from the Province of BC and Health Canada in 2008 and early 2009.  The purpose of the money is to provide reliable high-speed Internet connectivity to as many unconnected First Nations as possible, with a project goal of all 203 First Nations communities having, at minimum, Consumer Grade High Speed Internet.

As some time as passed since ANTCO received this money, we felt it was time to provide an update of progress to date.

Of the 203 First Nations communities in BC, our research indicates approximately123 communities have a form of high-speed connectivity, and are considered “connected” with at minimum consumer grade high-speed internet.  To view the information we have regarding your community and its connectivity status please log onto the project website at www.pathwaystotechnology.ca and click on the Google community map link.  From there you should easily locate your First Nation.  If you feel there is a discrepancy please let us know.

As you can appreciate this is a large and daunting task, both physically and financially, and it is important for communities to realize the only effective  use of the limited funding is by taking advantage of existing telecommunications infrastructure in this province, currently owned by the larger telecommunication companies to bring fibre to your community, wherever feasible.  Once the (for example) fibre is in the community we will be working with you directly on the “last mile” portion, i.e. the disbursement of high-speed signals throughout the community.  The bottom line for communities is that Pathways to Technology is a project, as opposed to a program, so for those communities that currently do not enjoy any form of Internet connectivity the good news is that there is no need to apply for funding; the Pathways to Technology project will be coming to you.  You will be consulted regarding all aspects of community connectivity well in advance of any work being scheduled.

Since receiving the money much work has gone into ensuring this project will be successful.  This includes the development of the required relationships with all parties involved and the complex construction service agreement, including below-market access fees for a number of years into the future. Currently ANTCO has draft agreements in place with two major telecommunications providers and we expect the first community to be connected by Christmas.

All of this has proven to be a very time consuming exercise and we thank all communities for their patience as we continue to resolve the business issues and conclude these agreements.  You should know that the $40.8 million is safely invested in a professionally managed portfolio and the interest earned on the fund is returned to the fund, less any management fees, which are fixed.

For more detail on the Pathways to Technology project please visit the project website and check back frequently, as we will re-launch an improved and re-designed site in the very near future.

Community Update - January 2009

All Nations Trust Company, together with the First Nations Technology Council and the First Nations Health Council, is pleased to introduce two complementary initiatives.  The initiatives are focused on ensuring high-speed Internet connectivity and related support services are available to First Nations in BC.  Although many of the locations are in rural, remote and challenging geographic settings, work on both initiatives will commence in early 2009 with progress continuing over a period of perhaps three years or more until locations have access to high-speed connectivity.  In addition, this initiative is actively ensuring the level and quality of connectivity required to realise the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan vision of a First Nations clinical telehealth network.

First Nations, federal and provincial governments along with partners share a vision of ensuring First Nations communities can benefit from the social and economic benefits made available through high-speed connectivity.  

The First Nations Connectivity initiative has been named the Pathways to Technology project.  The Pathways to Technology Steering Committee is providing the following update in response to public enquiries.

Use of Funds

Initial funding for these initiatives has been provided through the provincial Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services through Network BC and includes a substantive contribution from Health Canada   On November 18, 2008, the ministry announced $22.5 million for the purpose of providing high-speed broadband connectivity to First Nations in BC.  This is a complex, multi-year project currently in the planning phase.

It is important to understand that the funding allocated so far is only partial funding.  Additional substantial investments are required to assist First Nations in bringing telecommunication services to their communities.

The funding has been allocated as follows:

• $17.5 M is dedicated to supporting the construction of necessary infrastructure for (1) bringing broadband access points to First Nation communities and (2) distribution of broadband within those communities to the end users.
• $5.0 M will be used for capacity building; ensuring that those communities receiving high-speed broadband also receive the training and skills development necessary to fully utilize the technology and derive full benefits.

Limited Financial Resources
The available funding ($17.5 M) is not sufficient to provide connectivity to all First Nations in BC.  This level of funding is however a very good start, and prudent fund management and strategic disbursement of funds will enhance our chances of obtaining additional funding to continue this important work.  As a result the Steering Committee is:
Dedicated to ongoing efforts to raise additional capital from a variety of sources; and
Obligated to optimize the use of the current funding.

Connectivity Funding
The objective is to optimize the use of funds in order that as many First Nation communities as possible receive high-speed Internet service given the funding constraints, and ensure the connectivity targets for the First Nations telehealth network are achieved .  Hence this is a project, as opposed to a program.  That is, it is not proposal-driven and communities cannot apply for funding.  The primary reason for this is that there is an existing telecommunications infrastructure in this province, owned and operated by providers such as Telus, Northwest Tel and others.  Prudent use of funds requires that we partner with these carriers, utilize existing infrastructure wherever possible, and expand as necessary.  The build-out of new infrastructure will follow a logical and strategic sequence.  A proposal-driven program would result in inefficient use of funds and therefore provide Internet connectivity for fewer communities.

An ordered listing of communities is under development which builds upon work undertaken by the Fully Integrated Technologies Partners Working Group.  This group established an ordered list of communities while applying certain principles and factors. 

For example:

• Bottom line cost will not be the overriding factor;
• Obtain the best value for the money spent;
• Invest in communities that will benefit most;
• Support of a school and/or health center on reserve;
• Remoteness of the community;
• The number of homes;
• Community growth indicators; and others.

Last Mile Funding
Distribution of the broadband signals within a community to the end users is normally handled by a community network or business entity called an Internet Service Provider, or ISP.  Funding for last mile systems will be allocated for those communities that currently do not have last mile systems in place. 

Capacity Building
It is critical that those communities that are the recipients of broadband connectivity also have access to programs that will result in skill development and “digital literacy.”    A more specific and comprehensive strategy is currently under development and expected to be available early in 2009.  For more information on capacity development consultations now underway please contact the First Nations Technology Council.

For more information visit www.pathwaystotechnology.ca