ROSSLAND A STEP CLOSER TO OFFERING BROADBAND
By CBT
Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation working to bring fibre optics into the city
(Columbia Basin) – A high-speed fibre optic network may soon be coming to Rossland thanks to help from the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Basin Trust.
CBBC’s goal is to bring better high-speed connectivity to the Basin. To do so, CBBC continues to improve and expand its regional network. Until now, communities have had to develop their own local networks, which would then be connected to CBBC’s. While a handful of communities have had the capacity to complete this work, others have run into issues, from lack of funding to lack of technical expertise.
“This project in Rossland is an example of how CBBC is evolving in response to the needs of communities,” said Neil Muth, Columbia Basin Trust President and CEO. “CBBC plans to develop, fund and own the local network in Rossland. We’ll use this learning opportunity to decide whether this is a viable option for us to undertake in other Basin communities.”
Rossland was selected in part because it has a dedicated task force of citizens and municipal government that has been working with CBBC for over two years to bring broadband into the community and exploring a project that would entail connecting business and municipal facilities.
“We are delighted that CBBC is prepared to take on this project in Rossland,” said Kathy Moore, Mayor of Rossland. “Like other smaller communities, Rossland has struggled to contribute to building this infrastructure; however, we know the value it can bring to driving economic development by attracting new residents and businesses, and allowing existing businesses to do more with new and faster Internet services.”
CBBC would build and own the fibre optic network infrastructure and then invite Internet Service Providers to operate on the network. Over the next few months, CBBC will complete key project due diligence
Columbia Basin Trust supports efforts to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, visit cbt.org or call 1.800.505.8998.
