1) Below are notices about upcoming broadband internet sessions in several communities. Oona McOuat, originator of Connected Communities, responded with the following. The link is to a press release explaining how coastal communities, given access to fiber optic cable, can build an internet network that is far superior — faster, more secure and safer — than wired access. Fiber optic cable with no wired components is the way of the future.
(click on photos to enlarge)
“The Strathcona Regional District – the body behind the Connected Coast sub-sea fiber optic cable project that will come to SSI – is starting to do pubic outreach around locally controlled internet. (see below)
“Their plan is to go to all the communities connected to the cable. Way back I wrote as many as I could in the communities that will be connected, including First Nations, suggesting they choose wired and not wireless last miles.
Hopefully all the communities being contacted by the SRD have strong, aware advocates among them.”
Bringing Fast & Healthy Internet to Coastal Communities
How may coastal communities build the healthiest, fastest, and most sustainable communications infrastructure possible – systems that benefit citizens, wildlife, and local economies?
– Tip #1 – Don’t rely on telecoms to do it for you. It is unlikely traditional internet service providers will find the profit incentive to complete your project, and for financial reasons they are hooked on creating inferior wireless networks.
– Tip #2 – Create a community-owned fiber-optic-to-the-premises network.
– Tip #3 – Go with fiber, but keep your copper landlines. Without copper-wired phones, during extended power outages we may have no way of calling for emergency help.
2) The broadband initiative. Federal money is available to help bring fiber optic cable to the islands and other rural areas. Important opportunity to get access to safe wired internet that is community owned and controlled — a way to escape 5G !!
Broadband For All: Closing the Digital Divide in BC Without Big Telecom
“On March 8, the BC government announced an investment of $50 million to expand high-speed internet service for people living in approximately 200 rural and Indigenous communities. The money, administered through the Northern Development Initiative Trust, is aimed at closing the “digital divide” – the discrepancy between Canadians who have access to information and communication technologies, and those who don’t. Then on March 19, the federal government tabled their budget, committing another $750 million to “extend ‘backbone’ infrastructure to underserved communities,” and fund “last-mile” connections to homes and businesses….
According to the First Nations Technology Council, communities that form their own ISPs can control pricing policies, priorities, and how their network is deployed – and avoid the tricky issues with right-of-way and Rights and Title that can arise when a telecom agreement is signed with a large ISP. Municipalities and First Nations can choose to deploy, maintain, and manage the service themselves, or to only build the network infrastructure, and let ISPs sell services over it – netting a revenue stream in the process.”
3) Colon and rectal cancers are increasing dramatically among people under 30, and one serious hypothesis is that carrying cell phones, especially “smart” phones, in pockets could be the reason.
Colorectal Cancer Soaring in Young Adults; Are Smartphones in the Mix?
“Efforts to reduce colon and rectal cancers have been a striking success story for those over 50 years old. Incidence among older Americans declined 32% between 2000 and 2013, due largely to better screening. But the story for young adults is very different. Those born around 1990 now face four times the risk of developing rectal cancer and twice the risk of colon cancer in their 20s, compared to those born around 1950, according to the American Cancer Society….
Li offers an alternative hypothesis: Young people’s habit of carrying their cell phones in the front or back pockets of their jeans. “When placed in trouser pockets, the phones are in the vicinity of the rectum and the distal colon and these are the sites of the largest increases in cancer,” he says.”
https://microwavenews.com/news-center/de-kun-li-crc
Letters:
From: Michelle Van Beek <mvanbeek@srd.ca>
Subject: Broadband Internet Sessions Quadra and Cortes Islands
Date: May 31, 2019
We hope this email finds you well.
As you have already heard, better internet is proposed for your community! The SRD is planning for better connectivity in your area by connecting with residents of the Discovery Islands. We will be on Quadra Island, Thursday June 6th from 7-9pm at the Quadra Island Community Center and on Cortes Island on Wednesday June 19th from 4-6PM at Mansons Hall.
We will be hosting a Broadband Community Plan presentation and workshop which is open to the public and are looking forward to seeing many residents attend from your communities and surrounding areas. Community members will have the opportunity to learn about broadband and new infrastructure projects, share ideas on their community’s digital future and get inspired thinking about the real-world possibilities. We look forward to hearing more about your community’s vision on how better internet connectivity will shape the Discovery Islands and what type of new investments they feel this may create.
This event will be promoted through social media & print advertising (when available) and posters in prominent locations (attached). We would appreciate if you shared this information with community members and would be happy to send a personalized invitation to those who might be particularly interested, if you would be so kind to pass on their contact information. We are really hoping to see representation from business/chambers of commerce there and those who may be interested in driving initiatives through better broadband.
We hope to see you June 6th on Quadra Island or June 19th on Cortes Island and ask that you confirm your attendance via email rsvp@srd.ca or by phone at 1-877-830-2990, ext: 6724.
This is an exciting project for the communities of the SRD and made possible through funding provided by Island Coastal Economic Trust.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you soon,
Best Regards,
250-830-6701
*************
From: Elaine Popove <epopove@srd.ca>
To:
Sent: June 3, 2019
Subject: INVITATION – Broadband Internet Sessions hosted by SRD
Hello,
The SRD will be hosting Broadband Community Plan presentations and workshops which are open to the public and we’re looking forward to seeing many residents attend. Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about broadband and new infrastructure projects, share ideas on their community’s digital future and get inspired thinking about the possibilities. We look forward to hearing more about each community’s vision on how better internet connectivity will shape it and what type of new investments they feel this may create.
We hope you will be able to attend and would appreciate if you shared this information with other community members. We would be happy to send a personalized invitation to those who might be particularly interested, if you would be so kind to pass on their contact information.
Locations & Dates:
Mon June 3 – Kyuquot Inn, Java Hut | 7:30 – 9 pm
Tues June 4 – Zeballos Community Hall | 4 – 6 pm
Wed June 5 – Sayward Heritage Hall | 4 – 6 pm
Thurs June 6 – Quadra Island Community Centre | 7 – 9 pm
Mon June 17 – Tahsis Recreation Centre, Gym | 4 – 6 pm
Tues June 18 – Gold River Sports Centre, Arena Lounge | 4 – 6 pm
Wed June 19 – Cortes Island Mansons Hall | 4 – 6 pm
This is an exciting project for the communities of the SRD and made possible through funding provided by Island Coastal Economic Trust.
Please confirm your attendance via email rsvp@srd.ca or by phone at 1-877-830-2990, ext: 6724.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
We thank you for your support.
Sharon Noble, Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse” ~ Edmund Burke