Fibre optics plan made public

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This article was published 30/05/2019 (2577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

St. Francois Xavier reeve Rick Van Wyk explained council’s plan to establish a fibre optic system throughout the municipality at a public meeting on May 29.

About 90 people attended the meeting, and judging by the applause, most seemed to support council’s vision that involves borrowing about $3 million with a 25-year term to set up and run the system. Van Wyk said all households and businesses now situated in the municipality will receive free hook-up to the network.

“It will provide fibre optics to every home, business and farm,” he said.

The system will initially be capable of providing internet service at a speed of 100 megabits per second — a rate that the councillors have determined will meet the needs of most residents. It is possible that the speed could be increased in the future.

Based on research conducted by council over the past few months, Van Wyk said, estimates show that the monthly cost for a household will be about $80 and $130 for a business. “It’s going to be a user-pay system.”

Those who decide not to sign up initially then later change their minds, and the owners of homes or businesses constructed after the system is in place, will have to pay a hook-up fee.

“The break-even point for this project is 65 per cent sign-up,” Van Wyk said, adding that an informal survey of municipal residents makes him feel confident that 80 per cent might sign up right away. If this happens, revenue generated would permit council to pay off the loan within 14 years. After that time, the revenue could amount to between $150,000 and $2 million annually and be used for community development projects.

“I think this is pretty exciting for the community,” Van Wyk said.

He said council had previously commissioned a study that contained a recommendation to install a fibre optic network within the eastern side of the municipality and provide wireless internet coverage from a point west of the village to the western municipal boundary. However, council rejected this proposal in favour of offering a system that will cover the entire municipality.

He said council is waiting for the Municipal Board to approve its borrowing the money needed to set up the system that includes a hub site in the village. After that, if enough people show their interest by signing up, council will issue tenders for the network, and installing and hooking up the fibre optic cable.

“It would start at the village,” he said. “We’re looking at possibly late fall.”

He read a letter sent in by a resident who stated his concern over the municipality spending money on a fibre optic network that he feels is a luxury, and not an essential service. Another resident spoke out asking for natural gas service rather than fibre optics. Van Wyk said council explored the idea of bringing in natural gas to the municipality a few years ago but the cost was too high.

A few other residents in attendance said they believe having access to high-speed internet service will help the community grow and add value to their properties.

A form was given out at the meeting for residents to use to indicate whether or not they are interested in signing up for the fibre optic service. The form is also available on the RM website at http://www.rm-stfrancois.mb.ca

A second public information meeting is set for Wed., June 5 at 7 p.m. in Belcourt Community Club (55 Belcourt Rd.).