Connecting Cumberland

March 2008 - The official Connecting Cumberland project ended in 2005. CREDA has remained dedicated to continuing efforts to bring high-speed Internet service to the rest of Cumberland County. In the Spring of 2007 in partnership with CREDA, the Government of Nova Scotia chose the communities of Tidnish to Port Howe to participate in a wireless broadband pilot project. Seaside Communications received the contract to provide service for this pilot area.

As of December of 2007, following a call for proposals to Internet service providers, the Government of Nova Scotia awarded Seaside Communications the contract to provide high-speed Internet services to the un-served areas of Northern Nova Scotia including Cumberland County.

For residents of Cumberland County currently un-served by any high-speed Internet service, please contact Joanne Oldford toll free at 1-877-842-1177, ext. 319, or by E-mail [email protected]. You can also visit the Seaside Communications website for additional information on their services.

The Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association (CREDA) was awarded funding under Industry Canada’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) Pilot Program to assist with the development of a rural broadband business plan. The objective of the development phase was to prepare and submit a business plan to compete for Industry Canada funding for the deployment of broadband services in rural Cumberland County.

October 21, 2003 - On behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency announced that the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association was selected to receive assistance from industry Canada to deploy broadband, or high-capacity, Internet to nine local unserved communities:

Approximately $831,936 was available to the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association (CREDA) for implementation funding through the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, through its Strategic Community Investment Fund, provided an additional $135 629, The Municipality of the County of Cumberland committed 100 000, Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development $50 000, Cumberland CAP Network $30 000, and the Town of Parrsboro $20 000.

CREDA was one of 33 applicants from across Canada selected to further advance the implementation of broadband to First Nations, northern and rural communities. Click here to view photos from the official announcement.

CREDA and the Cumberland BRAND Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support of the rural broadband project. We would also like to thank our funding partners and the businesses and organizations from who we received letters of support for this important initiative. Also, we cannot forget to thank everyone who attended the community consultation meetings and those who completed the broadband surveys. Your cooperation and support is greatly appreciated. A special thank you also goes out to Nelson Bezanson of the County of Cumberland for providing us with maps of the target communities, and to Beth Smith for her assistance throughout the project.



Home general information on the local broadband initiative	Connecting Cumberland March 2008 - The official Connecting Cumberland project ended in 2005. CREDA has remained dedicated to continuing efforts to bring high-speed Internet service to the rest of Cumberland County. In the Spring of 2007 in partnership with CREDA, the Government of Nova Scotia chose the communities of Tidnish to Port Howe to participate in a wireless broadband pilot project. Seaside Communications received the contract to provide service for this pilot area. As of December of 2007, following a call for proposals to Internet service providers, the Government of Nova Scotia awarded Seaside Communications the contract to provide high-speed Internet services to the un-served areas of Northern Nova Scotia including Cumberland County. For residents of Cumberland County currently un-served by any high-speed Internet service, please contact Joanne Oldford toll free at 1-877-842-1177, ext. 319, or by E-mail [email protected]. You can also visit the Seaside Communications website for additional information on their services. Visit the Government of Nova Scotia broadband webpage for more information on the broadband initiative in Nova Scotia. The Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association (CREDA) was awarded funding under Industry Canada’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) Pilot Program to assist with the development of a rural broadband business plan. The objective of the development phase was to prepare and submit a business plan to compete for Industry Canada funding for the deployment of broadband services in rural Cumberland County. This web site was set up to: provide the citizens of rural Cumberland County and our stakeholders with information about the project provide an overview of broadband and its value to rural communities provide surveys to help CREDA assess the demand for broadband in the rural communities Broadband Business Plan Application Successful October 21, 2003 - On behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency announced that the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association was selected to receive assistance from industry Canada to deploy broadband, or high-capacity, Internet to nine local unserved communities: Advocate Harbour Joggins Malagash Parrsboro Port Greville Pugwash River Hebert Wallace Wentworth Approximately $831,936 was available to the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association (CREDA) for implementation funding through the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, through its Strategic Community Investment Fund, provided an additional $135 629, The Municipality of the County of Cumberland committed 100 000, Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development $50 000, Cumberland CAP Network $30 000, and the Town of Parrsboro $20 000. CREDA was one of 33 applicants from across Canada selected to further advance the implementation of broadband to First Nations, northern and rural communities. Click here to view photos from the official announcement. Halifax Herald Article - Saturday, November 1, 2003 Amherst Daily News Article (Page 1, Page 2)- Monday, November 3, 2003 You can view details by visiting the Industry Canada Broadband site here. Thanks for your cooperation and support! CREDA and the Cumberland BRAND Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support of the rural broadband project. We would also like to thank our funding partners and the businesses and organizations from who we received letters of support for this important initiative. Also, we cannot forget to thank everyone who attended the community consultation meetings and those who completed the broadband surveys. Your cooperation and support is greatly appreciated. A special thank you also goes out to Nelson Bezanson of the County of Cumberland for providing us with maps of the target communities, and to Beth Smith for her assistance throughout the project.

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