Media.Knet.Ca

The National Satellite Initiative is a new program within Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) program. On Friday, February 6, Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager attended a meeting for the Satellite Service Providers in Ottawa. For more information about the purpose of this meeting, click here.

The National Satellite Initiative was created to lower the cost of broadband access for communities in the Far to mid-north, and in isolated and remote areas of Canada, where satellite is the only reasonable means of providing broadband access.

Infrastructure Canada, through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), Industry Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are funding partners of this $155 million initiative.

Balmertown, Poplar Hill and Deer Lake are the designation points for the winter video taping that is now being completed as part of the KO Smart Communities Demonstration project evaluation process. George Ferreira is working with the Telecommons Development Group, the University of Guelph and the team at Keewaytinook Okimakanak to capture local stories and experiences using ICTs on video. The winter road experience is now also going to be included in these stories through these efforts.

George traveled from Guelph to Toronto and took the train to Winnipeg with all his gear. In Winnipeg, he rented a suburban and drove to Balmertown on Feb 1. He met and videotaped the KO team in Balmertown and participated in a Chiefs' Board meeting during his stay there. Then on Feb 5, he and Cal Kenny drove to Stormer Lake and videotaped some of the activities taking place there. From there, they took the winter road to Poplar Hill where they met with and videotaped different people and local activities. From Poplar Hill, George is going to drive to Deer Lake with Steven Zussino to work with the local smart team members in that community.