Lt.-Gov. Barbara Hagerman inspects the honour guard before entering Province House to deliver the throne speech opening the legislature for the fall session. Guardian photo
Province-wide Internet connection running on schedule, Ghiz says
WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
A plan to bring Internet services to rural Prince Edward Island is not running behind schedule, says Premier Robert Ghiz.
During the announcement last November, the province said the majority of Islanders would be connected by the end of 2009.
But in the speech from the throne delivered on Thursday, Lt.-Gov. Barbara Hagerman said: “Early in 2010, virtually every Island homes and businesses will have access to high-speed Internet — and thousands of Islanders are taking up the new opportunities offered by rural broadband.”
“We’re pretty much on schedule,” Ghiz told The Guardian.
“By the end of this year pretty much everybody will be covered. Then there will be a couple of pockets that might have to be looked at across the province,” he said.
By the end of this month, it is expected that 19,000 rural Island households will have access to high-speed Internet.
Access will be extended to the remaining homes and businesses in early 2010.
Last November, the province announced it had entered into a development agreement with BellAliant that would see the communications giant invest $8.2 million to extend broadband services to every community in Prince Edward Island, as well as the establishment of a $1-million Joint Innovation Fund and the renewal of the provincial government’s telecommunications contract.
Ghiz said Prince Edward Island will be the only province in Canada that will be able to boast of having high-speed Internet province-wide.
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Chelle' .B from PEI writes: GOLLY GEE... another 2months and it will be 2010. IMAGINE, this province of the great country of Canada will Finally get province wide- TheInternet.
How many miles is PEI from East to West 183 miles? What an accomplishment in the year 2009-2010!
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city resident from P.E. writes: Why not , we are the SMALLEST province in Canada.
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Fed up islander from pe writes: Maybe if Ghiz had alllowed Eastlink to participate rather than only allowing Aliant, it might go faster.
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RLS from PEI writes: Yeah, right. All of my family lives in the country, and not one of us is connected yet; and that's covering Covehead, Winsloe, Breadalbane, Crapaud, Rose Valley, just to name a few. Seems funny that so many Islanders are hooked up, yet these areas that are spread so far apart have yet to see it. Ghiz is full of it again; I've always been a liberal, but this government is changing my mind more and more every day.
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Bullpoopie 4miles from ebenezer, PEI writes: Ya right! *eyeroll*. i don't believe a word that man says. i believe the aliant customer services reps i have talked to numerous times this past year as they know more what is goin on and they ADMITTED that things were behind and alot of those left will not being getting high speed till 2010. i don't know who decides on where and who gets it first but i would like to know how areas that are stuck RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of two communities/roads can not get it but be surrounded by those with highspeed. wouldn''t it make more sense to FINSISH one whole area then move onto the next...ahhh i guess that would too easy..something the current government has no clue how to do.
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Works Fine from PE writes: RLS - I live in Winsloe and my wireless internet is working great. I work in Crapaud and I get it there too. Maybe you need a new router. Future Shop has some. The Conservatives only had a decade to bring in this service to Islanders. I'm ok with the Liberals taking an extra couple months.
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Natalie from Charlottetown, PE writes: I'm not sure how much I believe this. I know my parents live in central PEI and they can only still get dial-up.
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Head Shaker from pe writes: The article is stating the progress, not the completion of the project. Therefore stating that it is a lie based on the fact that there are places it hasn't been installed yet is a bit premature.
It is like hiring someone to paint your house, and coming back at a later date to only find it half done so far, pointing at the painter working, and take that as proof that the house isn't being painted.
Patience is a virtue that few people seem to have. Not enough time to do it right, but lots of time to whine that no one took the time to do it right.
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Red Nex from PEI writes: I, can not understand, why The Premier, would tell falsehoods, on something so, unimportant.
Alaint reps, ( the ones I have called on the phone), know nothing of this agreement, and have no idea when I will get High Speed. My area, is not on any list. Who, am I to believe ?
Some people simply can not tell the thruth, on any issue.
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Neither lib nor cons from PEI writes: Why do so many people (including the current government) seem to think it's the government's responsibility to deliver internet to the people? This is not a necessary utility like water or electricity.
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BOB DOLE from PEI writes: OMG stop blaming everything on the Liberal Gov't. at least they started to do something about it unlike the conservatives. oh boo hoo i broke a nail blame Ghiz, a bird crapped on my car blame Ghiz, i'm not smart enough to form my own opinion blame Ghiz, it's cloudy outside blame Ghiz. if the PC party is sooooo wonderful why are they not in power?(anyone .... crickets chirp in the distance as a silence falls upon the comment section)
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Marie from PEI writes: Oh now it's early 2010...Initially it was promised by the end of 2010.... that doesn't sound like ON TIME to me. Ghiz & Bell are taking in circles again. What I fail to understand is why they would sign up a complete area of communities and leave out one community right in the centre......yes completely surrounded by all others. After contacting Bell I was no more clearer on the project but much much clearer what Bell is all about.
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Red Nex from PEI writes: Bob Dole, we will see what your opinion will be in October 2011.
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GHJ Echo from PE writes: I can spell PNP. Can you spell 4 years under Conservative watch and less than 2 years Liberal. Yea, 100% Liberals fault...
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RLS from PEI writes: To Works Fine from PEI: I guess you must know someone from Aliant to have high speed in Winsloe and Crapaud; in both areas, my family has been told by Aliant reps that highspeed is not available in their areas yet, and no router is going to help with that problem. It's the same as in other communites, some roads in one community has it, others don't.
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Red Nex from PEI writes: GHJ Echo, for your information, the Conservative watch was longer than 4 years, but I fail to understand your comment.
PNP, is the ultimate corruption ever to have happened on PEI.
Oh may I ask, did you get any Units?..Oh, your not allowed to tell...:P
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Give them some credit from Charlottetown, PEI writes: I have to congratulate someone for making the Internet available to all at public libraries.
The service has been available to everyone in most of the communities I've travelled to in the past two years.
Not only is it available, it is provided free. I have had German tourists tell me how pleased they were to have access. Think what that does for tourism.
Some people had to do some planning to deliver the service. My congratulations to them.
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nitpicker from Charlottetown, PEI writes: wow. Ghiz said high speed internet by the end of 2009. Now it looks like early 2010.
Better hang him I guess?
People really need to relax a wee bit. Society is getting far too reliant on what government does or doesn't do.
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Robert from PEI writes: In 2009 - 2010, there's a real problem with people who DON'T Understand, this IS a necessary utility like water, electricity and a telephone.
DUMBED Down, LOL- Stay that way.
This has nothing to do with Libber-Cons, this has to do with Islanders being left behind the rest of North America, being left dumbed-down.-Again.
USE To be Canadians made jokes about another Maritime Prov. ...NOT ANY MORE. Now- They're making jokes about PrinceEdwardIslanders. SERIOUSLY! How many P.E. Isanders know how to use The Internet? ... We've become a national joke.
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Micheal from PEI & NS writes: Free Internet access at Libraries all across North America AND across The civilizd World has been available for well Over A Decade.
Noone on PEI, in NS or NB should have to go to a library, a school, or a prov. gov. facility to access the internet.
2 months shy of 2010 ALL Islanders should have the Internet Access they need at home.
How do you expect PEI Students to keep up with the rest of Canadian/USA Students without at Home Internet Access? They Can't.
How do internet illiterate Islanders understand Today's world without the internet? They Don't.
Apathy and Ignoeance is inexcusable.
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still on dial up from MT.ALBION, PE writes: 10 MILES FROM CHARLOTTETOWN AND STILL ON DIAL UP
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