January 2, 2004 High Speed, Wireless Network Makes History

I heard a recent discussion about the greatest improvements in the last century. Aviation, which was 100 years old in 2003, was one example as was the automobile. Others talked about were improvements in health care and a greater life span. The other major category was electricity and all of its spin-off applications including the telephone, TV, and computers etc. Some thought microchips and fibre optics were the biggest breakthroughs because they have impacted on all of the above areas, have come a long way in a short time, and is far from complete in its potential.

Most people can get along without a computer but business and education and related fields have become very dependent on it. Personally I would probably not be writing this column if it were not for the computer. I still need to talk to people and go to libraries but the Internet has become a major source of information. There are now over a million web sites in existence. My columns are typed on the computer and sent to the Nugget and to my son who eventually puts them on the Internet (www.pastforward.ca). I scan the photos I want to use and send them to my son in Toronto who fine tunes them and sends them to the Nugget while keeping a copy for our website for use after the column is published. It is a bit slow in rural northern Ontario but that is about to change.

Wireless Internet

High-speed wireless Internet is in place in most places in Ontario except rural and northern Ontario. We were excited about the Nip Net project, which died before it could be implemented. Blue Sky Net is now well on its way to implementing these improvements in our area with a 1 million dollar grant from Industry Canada last October.

Jeff Buell and the Blue Sky Region Map

As most people know, the huge area around North Bay has been designated as the Blue Sky Region. (It has 100,000 people and is 160km E to W and 360km N to S. - see map). There is now a real estate company using the name and Blue Sky Living Blueskyliving.ca "your on-line Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Life in the Blue Sky Region" has established itself as a powerful presence with an active advertising campaign. (By coincidence the widely used photo of the pond with the dock and blue sky is my pond and dock taken by photographer Greg McGuinty.)

The big initiative to bring high speed wireless service to the area falls under the Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation (BSEGC). (see www.blueskyegc.ca) It has 10 economic sectors including one in Technology and Communications. This sector has done some excellent work including a directory of 8000 businesses and organizations. Scott Mannering is the BSEGC manager for that sector and is assisted by Jeff Buell. Blue Sky Net the group that replaced Nip Net has moved under the BSEGC umbrella (www.blueskynet.ca).

As a member of the Powassan Union Public Library Board I have been aware of the work of Blue Sky Net because the committee behind it, made up mostly of Library CEO's, is chaired by Helen McDonnell the Powassan Library CEO. (Libraries recently received large Ontario Trillium Foundation Grants to upgrade computers in libraries, but that is another story).

Libraries and other institutions got involved through the Federal Government Community Access Program (CAP) and moved under the BSEGC for administrative purposes. The initiative is call "Project Skywave". Jeff Buell spends much of his time supporting the group along with other responsibilities. I spoke to him recently and he explained the organization structure - some of which I have noted here. 

Blue Sky Living advertisement

Jeff reports that some existing towers throughout the Blue Sky Region will have transmitters installed on them to send out wireless signals. The first one will be on a fire tower in Corbeil and will send a signal 10-15km away. In some cases a small receiver will pick up the signal and send it by fibre to an enclave of homes.

The new technology will be much faster and will allow for Distance Education courses with full curriculum formats including TV conferencing. Home schooling, which is expanding rapidly, will benefit. Tele-health initiatives will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare delivery. Businesses will be able to send large format material and large file sharing not before possible. Various Service Providers will offer their services at competitive rates.

The million dollar grant will make this all possible with other changes soon to follow in the near future. For those without computers your local library will help you with any research, email or other services. For further information on Blue Sky Net call Jeff Buell at 705-476-0874 ext 205. The Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation is in the Kennedy Building at 222 McIntyre St. 3rd Floor, North Bay.

Congratulations to all who have worked to make this happen. I hope to keep you informed here as this initiative makes history.