CFDC of Revelstoke is partnering with Okanagan University College to investigate the feasibility of building a fibre-optics network throughout the community.

A Communications Technology Committee has been formed with community stakeholders and representatives from sponsoring organizations to direct the feasibility study.

Funding for the study has been approved by the province’ s Community Enterprise program and the Columbia Basin Trust. A submission to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Economic Opportunity Fund to complete the funding requirements is awaiting approval.

Recent developments in communications technology are allowing the deployment of very low-cost and very high bandwidth optical networks for the carriage of internet traffic. It is our objective to explore the feasibility of gaining access to this new technology. By virtue of having this infrastructure available to do business, we should substantially improve the community’s ability to attract high-tech companies and increase opportunities for existing and new businesses to compete in the global economy. Additionally, an atmosphere will be developed where educational institutions can work together in market driven training and distant education, that will create new opportunities for learning and the ability to export training beyond traditional boundaries.

The study will:

• identify the most efficient and cost effective communications infrastructure for Revelstoke’s needs;
• determine the partnering necessary to bring the project to fruition
• suggest possible sources of funding for installation of the infrastructure
• provide cost-benefit analysis for the most viable options
• assess education implications and job creation opportunities

For more information contact Jim Cook 837-4235.

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