CREDA File

Welcome to the CREDA File, a monthly column on economic development issues and activities in Cumberland County from the files of the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association - published monthly in the Citizen newspaper.

April 2008

 

2008 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada, one of the many proud firsts for Nova Scotia. On October 2, 1758, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly met for the first time in Halifax. It was the first elected assembly of its kind in what is now Canada.

In recognition of this important historic achievement, a year-long celebration is taking place under the auspices of Democracy 250, a non-partisan body unanimously supported by an act of the Nova Scotia legislature. New or existing events that take place within the 2008 calendar year in Nova Scotia are invited to become affiliated with Democracy 250. Affiliated events should represent one or more of the following objectives: reaches out to youth; honours our veterans and military men and women in uniform today; promotes active citizenship; and shines the spotlight on Nova Scotia’s rich culture, proud past, and important contribution to our country’s national identity.

Affiliated events will be promoted on the Democracy 250 interactive on-line calendar, through various promotional materials and in campaigns promoting Democracy 250. Financial assistance is available in some instances. For more information on Democracy 250 visit www.democracy250.ca.

Here in Cumberland County a regional Democracy 250 Committee has been formed under the auspices of CREDA. This committee is working very closely with the provincial body to ensure that existing and new Cumberland county events are included in the celebrations. For example, Democracy 250 will participate in the annual Municipality of the County of Cumberland Municipal Day/Open House on Thursday, May 1st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the E.D. Fullerton Municipal Building in Upper Nappan.

The question on everyone's lips in rural Cumberland County is 'when am I getting high speed’? Businesses, tourism operators and residents have waited a long time for a reliable high-speed service. Although the deadline is the end of 2009, service will become available to subscribers across the county throughout the lifetime of the Initiative, as the infrastructure is put in place.

The wireless signal backbone will be built first, using existing towers. Subscribers who can receive signals from those towers will be switched on as the service becomes available. Then gaps in service will be filled in using smaller towers and poles. It is important to note that not everyone who lives within view of an existing tower may get a signal right away. Unfortunately, that is due to the rugged nature of Nova Scotia's landscape. The service provider will install poles to get a high-speed signal to those residents living in difficult spots over the course of the build.

In other words, subscribers will be hooked up continuously over the next two years, but there is no guarantee that everyone in a particular area will get access to high- speed at the same time. The key thing to remember is that the service providers are obliged to ensure that everyone in their zones has access to high-speed service by the end of 2009.

In Cumberland County, Seaside Communications will use the Motorola Canopy fixed wireless solution. Fixed wireless technology is very well suited to this project; it is cost efficient, and scalable, which means that it can be expanded easily in the future when necessary. The Canopy technology transmits a radio signal between fixed access points on radio antennae (towers and poles) strategically located across the county. The signal is delivered to subscribers through a receiver box fixed to their home or office. A cable will then bring the signal indoors to the subscriber's computer or wireless router..

Currently, Seaside Communications is designing their 'build.' Using maps highlighting unserved communities and civic addresses, as well as topographical data, the company is identifying existing towers or new sites that will successfully transmit wireless signals to unserved areas. Many of those structures are already in place and the province will lease many of its towers. Municipal structures such as water towers, or volunteer fire department towers and structures could also be suitable, if they are situated in the right location. However, some new structures will have to be built to achieve full access to high speed.

Roughly 80 per cent of the new infrastructure will be twenty-five metre poles, similar to telephone or electricity poles. The remaining twenty per cent will comprise radio antenna towers that range from 30 - 70 metres in height.

To keep informed on progress of the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative, please visit the NS Government website where you can join the mailing list to receive regular updates about this initiative. Alternatively, you can contact the service provider and sign up to request broadband service when it becomes available.

Seaside Communications - 1-877 842-1177

If you have any questions or want further information regarding CREDA call 667-3638. CREDA is Quality System registered to ISO 9001:2000.