1. Broadband for Rural
Nova Scotia (BRNS) initiative
http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/broadband/

2. What is BRNS initiative?
• Joint federal – provincial government initiative
• Public Private Partnership delivery model with
three ISP partners
• Provide access to high speed to all unserved civic
addresses in (mostly rural) Nova Scotia
• Total = approx. 80,000 addresses
• Due date, end of 2009

3. Served vs. Unserved
Defining Unserved
• An “unserved” area is a
civic address at which
residents and
businesses are unable
to obtain broadband
connectivity at prices,
level of service and
quality of service levels
comparable to urban
areas.

4. Affordable rural broadband:
a fixed wireless solution
 Three options: DSL, coax cable
and fixed-wireless
 Motorola “Canopy” fixed
wireless high speed chosen by
all three ISPs
 Unlicensed radio frequency
 Signals travel by radio signal -
wireless receiver attached to
fixed location
 Affordable, scaleable, cost-
effective solution for Nova
Scotia
 Model now being proposed by
federal government across
Canada

6. A fixed network delivers broadband services to a home or
A fixed wireless
wireless network
business

7. Building the Network: Key Steps
1. Pick best locations for
signal transmission
2. Identify suitable tower or
green-field site
3. Access land – find owner,
lease/ purchase
4. Consult with public about
tower
5. Get municipal permits
6. Line up materials & crew
7. …… then, build!

8. 2007 – 2008: BRNS activities
• Tenders offered, three ISPs got contracts to
deliver high speed in seven zones
• RF engineering and site identification
undertaken across all zones
• By end 2008, construction was underway in all
zones
• Limited light ups occurred in some zones .

9. 2009: BRNS Activities
• Three ISPs working in 7 zones
• Network development underway in all zones:
– RF engineering, land acquisition & permitting
– Fixed wireless network construction
• ISP-owned tower construction
• Co-locations on provincial/ privately owned
towers
• Provincial TRMS tower construction
– Signal testing and customer light ups
– Final mile solutions for ‘hard to reach’ customers

10. When will we have 100% high speed?
 By the end of 2009
 When exactly will I get high speed? That will depend on:
 Successful land acquisition
 Getting permits, approvals, meeting by-laws
 Public consultation processes
 Site accessibility - roads, power, may need off-grid sites
 Logistics - weather, length of build seasons, roads, etc.
 Availability of specialized resources

11. Liaison & Development Role
 Inform, consult with, and manage expectations of
key stakeholder groups
 Website, updates & correspondence
 Community and group briefings & presentations
 Support public consultation process in municipalities
 Stimulate demand for broadband applications
 Help communities develop Internet Strategies
 Promote awareness through workshops, presentations,
media campaigns
 Promote e-Government and online services

12. Planning for a high speed future
• A four hour, facilitated, community-based workshop
that:
– identifies participant ‘hopes for high speed’ (the vision),
– builds a community profile (strengths),
– measures community competence in four areas – leadership,
collaboration, skills & learning, Internet applications
– Sets community goals and objectives to use high speed
access to achieve Community Economic Development (CED)
goals

13. Our plans for workshop:
Planning for a high speed future?
• Roll out workshop and promote community engagement
with high speed issues
– Formal launch, March 2009
– Regionally-based facilitators trained to deliver the workshop
– Support for workshop delivery through rural CED networks
• Work to support ideas and innovation at community level
– Develop and oversee pilot project to identify best way to
support communities
– Build coalitions, networks, support community-based efforts to
leverage federal and other funding
– Target training needs identified by communities

14. To request a presentation for your organization, additional
information, or a workshop in your area, contact:
Lorraine Glendenning
Corporate Strategist, Liaison & Development
Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative
Dept of Economic & Rural Development
T: 902 424-0183 E: glendele@gov.ns.ca
Kathlene Farrell
Community Liaison Officer
Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia
Dept of Economic & Rural Development
T: 902 424-8822 E: farrellk@gov.ns.ca
www.gov.ns.ca/econ/broadband