Town of Sundre officials are conducting a feasibility study to determine the best means to introduce fibre optic broadband Internet to the community's businesses and residents.
Broadband infrastructure is imperative to preparing our municipality for the future, but determining the best means to introducing it is critical because we'll only have a single opportunity to introduce it — so we need to get it right.
Broadband infrastructure is crucial for a huge number of reasons. Primarily it's critically important for rural communities to compete with larger centres — we cannot be left behind in an information-driven digital global economy. That's why developing broadband infrastructure in a small community like ours will help prevent economic stagnation and lead to greater diversification opportunities. Economic diversification could materialize in many forms, including for example by helping small businesses develop e-commerce, or by recruiting professionals in creative industries who appreciate Sundre's great natural location, or by supporting those entrepreneurs working in software services.
If developed, broadband will also support community development, for instance, by providing capacity for distance learning, and it will also support the medical field in providing tele-health and tele-presence services online. Broadband Internet speeds will also encourage youth retention by improving the area's quality of life; it will foster workforce development and business development; and it impacts municipal operations. The list could literally go on and on.
Although we know that the social return on investment is limitless, we need to be sure the financial return is just as promising. This is why we, as a municipality, are going to be researching the market demand for broadband services in the community and attempting to determine its feasibility vis-à-vis various business models. Multiple business models exist, ranging from where the municipality is completely hands-off to where broadband services are provided as a publicly owned utility.
To date, we've been working with partners to determine the technical requirements and possibilities to have broadband installed.
So what next?
Soon, we'll be coming to the public to determine the local market demand, and then we'll compare demand to the financial feasibility of providing broadband as a public infrastructure and its operational requirements. If this is a service you want or need, let us know.
Keep an eye out for public surveys and meetings and be sure to participate. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
