The (SEDS) has received a boost towards its goal of connecting more than 1,700 households in rural, remote and Indigenous communities to high speed internet.
The non-profit organization, which represents rural communities in the region, has been working towards the development of a community owned and operated fibre optic network that would give underserviced communities in the region faster internet access.
The society received good news on Thursday, July 24, when the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) announced 13 "transformative, community let initiatives" set to receive its 2025 Net Good Grant. SEDS' internet project was among them.
"The initiative will develop a comprehensive technical and financial planning package to support the deployment of a community-owned fibre broadband network in the Shuswap region," reads a CIRA news release. "It will include network designs, cost-benefit analyses and implementation schedules to connect 1,702 underserved households across 16 rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
"The initiative will lay the groundwork for affordable, high-speed internet access and long-term digital inclusion through a locally governed co-op model."
SEDS president Sue McCrae said CIRA's support in "advancing digital inclusion in the Shuswap will be crucial this year."
"The funding will empower our community to build open-access, community-driven internet solutions, attract new investment, and engage in inclusive national digital policy conversations," said McCrae in the CIRA release. "It opens new ways for local groups to address unique challenges and opportunities facing their underserved communities, such as access to online health, education and economic development through employment.鈥�
To take the reins on this initiative, SEDS announced the formation of the Shuswap Regional Broadband Cooperative (SRBC), which will "work alongside our communities and represent practical solutions to local connectivity challenges many of us face."
"The vision is to build an open-access fibre optic network initially serving approximately 2,000 underserved households in the rural Shuswap, delivering fast, affordable, reliable internet to residents and businesses," said SEDS in a July 24 news release.
The SRBC include representatives from SEDS, Skwlax Group Ltd., and the Village of Chase.
"Unlike traditional providers, this cooperative ensures control and benefits stay local," said SEDS. "Members shape decisions to meet community needs, keep pricing fair, and reinvest revenue locally to create jobs and fuel economic growth.
Partnering with i-VALLEY, a not-for-profit with experience "bringing world-class broadband to rural communities across Canada," SEDS also submitted a funding application to Connecting Communities BC.
"While approval is pending, the momentum is undeniable," said SEDS. "This broadband co-op is more than infrastructure; it is a lifeline 鈥� empowering remote workers, enabling online learning, and strengthening social ties by keeping us connected.
"SEDS is proud to lead this initiative and support a community-owned, open-access broadband network that promotes local participation."