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To ensure residents and businesses have affordable, accessible, and high-quality broadband access, the County of Forty Mile No. 8, in partnership with local businesses and landowners, has begun to invest in and own a high-speed open-access broadband network. The purpose of this network is to reduce the digital divide of those who have access to broadband and those who do not. This investment will provide opportunities for economic prosperity and social well-being, for now and for generations to come.

For the last year and a half, County Council and Staff have worked with local Internet Service Providers, businesses and a consultant, Tango Networks Inc., to plan, design and construct the network. In March 2021 the County passed a broadband internet policy and in September Council passed the Broadband Strategy, a roadmap for future deployment of the network.

As the overall investment is significant, this is a long-term strategy which will be implemented in stages as resources are available. The plan for the network is to install fibre optic lines along Highway 3, Highway 61 and Highway 879 with service vaults at strategic locations. The County, working with an initial group of partners, has begun installing fibre-optic cable to business and subdivision edges from existing Internet Service Providers in Bow Island.

The County does not provide direct end-user internet services to specific residences at this time, but rather it will invest in the broadband network between communities, communications towers and businesses in an effort to encourage competition from Internet Service Providers and help improve the affordability, quality and accessibility of broadband services to all County residents.

Over 8.5 kilometers of open access fibre west of the Town of Bow Island is nearing construction completion, helping to connect new and existing businesses and subdivisions along Highway 3. Final steps to completion include placing the fibre optic cable in the conduits, installing conduit under the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Town of Bow Island and provide connections to several Internet Service Providers.

At the conclusion of the project, there will be internet provided by at least two Internet Service Providers to existing businesses. Each Internet Service provider owns and manages their own end user equipment and establishes their own rate plans.

For more information, please visit the County’s website: Policies and Bylaws (40mile.ca)

Click on Policies, then Administration to view the Broadband Policy and Broadband Strategy or click the links below.

The County is interested in exploring partnerships with businesses whose goals align with the policy and strategy. For more information please contact Keith Bodin, County Administrator at 403-867-3530.

The purpose of the EDA is to ensure that everyone is aware that Southeast Alberta is the most prosperous "centre of choice" which retains and attracts investment by businesses and families, supporting a high quality of life. The EDA is focused on its mission to establish Southeast Alberta as the hub for regional economic development through collaborative partnerships, stimulating growth and wealth for the region. Read more.

Palliser Economic Partnership
Palliser Economic Partnership is a Regional Economic Development Alliance of communities that are committed to working together to improve and expand economic development in Southeast Alberta . It is the organization that is responsible for marketing the Palliser region to the world. Read more.

County Office
More information can be obtained by calling the County office at (403) 867-3530.