While Black Diamond and Turner Valley councils mull over the best option for high-speed Internet, a private provider is pushing forward on its plans to offer service in both towns.
Calgary Internet provider Axia expressed interest in bringing fibre optics to both communities a year ago if it could obtain expressions of interest from 30 per cent of households and businesses.
Weston Jacques, Axia communications specialist, said Black Diamond is close to reaching the 30 per cent mark while Turner Valley is a little behind.
“We are going to engage with Black Diamond and Turner Valley until we get over that 30 per cent,” he said, adding the company will then design the network and begin construction if approved.
While Axia moves forward with its plans, councillors at both tables have mixed feelings about how to provide fibre optics in their communities.
During Turner Valley Town council’s Nov. 21 meeting, chief administrative officer Barry Williamson said councils should proceed cautiously before signing anything.
“We need to be careful about what’s driving the urgency,” he said. “What does it mean for us to sign up and give (Axia) easement rights? We don’t have all the answers to these questions?”
Williamson added that council should wait until the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) completes its regional study on what it would look like to bring broadband to the region. It should be complete in early 2017, he said.
Coun. Barry Crane argued that waiting too long could be detrimental to the communities.
“We are looking at quite a bit of time before we get fibre here, even if we do it ourselves,” he said. “From the communities that do have it installed (by Axia), I haven’t heard anything bad.”
During Black Diamond’s Nov. 16 council meeting, Mayor Glen Fagan said the Town has many options to consider for broadband – whether it is going with a provider like Axia at no cost to taxpayers, running the service publicly or being part of a regional service. A decision needs to be made soon, he said.
“My personal preference is I would like to see the shovel in the ground and it built by the end of next year,” he said. “It is the growth potential that comes with having broadband. There’s a bunch of businesses I was engaged with that wouldn’t come to Black Diamond because we didn’t have that high speed.”
Coun. Ruth Goodwin suggested council take its time to ensure it makes the right decision, however, Coun. Mike Ross said they’ve waited long enough.
“The federal government ain’t coming up with nothing, the province ain’t coming up with nothing and if we don’t do something we ain’t going to have nothing,” said Ross. “We’ve got an opportunity to get this for free now and I think we should take it.
“We have no idea how much money anything is going to cost. With Axia it won’t cost us nothing.”
Turner Valley mayor Kelly Tuck said residents and merchants in her community are eager to see movement on fibre optics.
“One of the biggest things I hear all the time is how slow the Internet is here,” she said. “Downloads take a very long time, especially if you want to stream a movie or Netflix. I can’t imagine trying to run a business.
“I’m only running one laptop out of my house and sometimes it’s painful.”
While both councils mull over their options for fibre optics, Tuck said it might be the residents and merchants who end up making the decision.
“If (Axia) is what they want, we definitely have to have a really good look at it,” she said. “If we hit 30 per cent why wouldn’t we (go ahead)? I’m surprised we’re not there now. I’m getting a lot of inquiries about how come it’s not here.”
Axia currently provides service to five Alberta communities and is constructing networks in another five.
For more details about Axia’s service or to express interest go to axia.com/Alberta.
