Bell still connecting fibre to East Ferris, but to fewer houses
Bell is still bringing fiber-optic internet to East Ferris, but to fewer houses than originally proposed.
The federal government promised to connect 98 per cent of Canadians to highspeed, 50 Mbps download/10 Mbps upload broadband internet by 2030. Bell is contracted to provide the necessary internet infrastructure throughout the Municipality of East Ferris.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada oversees the project.
See: Internet upgrades are coming, East Ferris group hopes they are enough
However, about a year ago, municipal staff were informed “that the federal government had descoped the project,” explained Jason Trottier, East Ferris’ Chief Administrative Officer. What that means is, “In the end, instead of about 2,200 households being included in Bell’s project, there are about 1,600 households.”
About 600 households will be excluded from Bell’s new project, Trottier clarified.
Why? Trottier explained that the federal government “is saying there is already 50/10 service to those 600 households.” And if the house doesn’t have those speeds, “they have access to them,” Trottier said, recalling the government’s reasoning.
Trottier provided an example. A couple of years ago, Net Spectrum did an internet project on Ouellette Road and Quae-Quae Road and in that area. “So, the federal government’s reasoning,” Trottier continued, “is why would we pay Bell to now bring fiber to those areas when Net Spectrum already had a contract, and those houses already have access to it.”
The feds also reminded the municipality that Net Spectrum installed a tower in Chisholm, as well, “and what they’re saying is those areas around the lake, at least some of them, have access from Chisholm’s tower.”
See: East Ferris’ and Bell’s internet connection re-established
However, there are homes in that coverage area “where we know people do not have 50/10 speed,” Trottier said, “whether the government says they do or not.”
“It’s incorrect,” he said, emphasizing the municipality is aware people are not receiving such service. “We hear from the residents, and we know they’re not getting 50/10 speeds.” But when those concerns are relayed to the government, Trottier and councillors receive the same answer – “those areas already have access to 50/10,” Trottier said.
“We’re happy Bell is coming through to provide service for those 1,600 households,” Trottier said, adding the work is set for completion in 2025. But when the government first announced the project, “it said Bell was going to cover the entire community, all households.”
“It’s a little different when you start scoping out 600 houses out of 2,200,” Trottier said.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, BayToday.ca
