Forty Mile residents could receive provincial rebate on internet services
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 21, 2023.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Some residents in the far south of the County of Forty Mile could receive $1,000 rebates in a provincial effort to pilot satellite-based internet service in a push to connect rural communities to communications infrastructure. The Ministry of Technology and Innovation will pilot the program in areas of the counties of Forty Mile, Warner and Cardston to residents who purchase receivers and sign on with the Elon Musk-owned enterprise Starlink this winter. “Advancing satellite internet technology in Alberta is an important milestone and an innovative way to achieve our goal of universal connectivity (with high-speed internet) by 2027,” stated Minister Nate Glubish. “Today, connectivity is everything and Alberta’s government is proud to provide rural Alberta with another option to eliminate the connectivity gap.” Residents must apply to the provincial program by Feb. 16, 2024. To qualify, residences must be located in specified areas outlined on the application’s website and is generally centred on Orion, the northern limit being Township Road 84 and the Montana border the southern edge. Forty Mile Reeve Stacy Burrows says the program could open “new possibilities” for farming and ranching endeavours. “This is not just about connectivity, it’s about cultivating a technology-enabled agricultural landscape for generations to come,” she said. 9-8
