With questions being raised about the promotion of a new fiber optic company setting up in Alberta Beach, some residents have expressed concerns regarding the nature of the program and the Village’s involvement in marketing the company’s internet service to local residents.
You may have seen online and social media promotions from a Calgary-based company called Connect Mobility. The advertisement states that they are seeking 400 homes in Alberta Beach, Sunset Point, and Val Quentin to commit to their new fiber optic system. The high-speed internet service is expected to begin operations in late February and has been promoted directly on the Village’s website and social media accounts.
After speaking with the Village office today, we obtained clarification regarding the arrangement between the office and Connect Mobility.
ADVERTISEMENT
As it turns out, the project originated from a grant the Village explored a few years ago to address high-speed internet service for the east side of the lake area. For several years, residents across the county have expressed dissatisfaction with current internet providers, such as Xplore, which frequently face technical issues and suffer from slow speeds due to over-subscribed towers.
This major upgrade, designed to enhance connectivity in our communities, will provide lightning-fast, reliable internet speeds delivered through a cutting-edge fiber network. Using FortisAlberta poles, this infrastructure will bring high-speed internet directly to your door, revolutionizing the way you experience the internet. ( Posted on the Village of Alberta Beach Website )
No Financial Incentive for the Village
One of the primary questions raised by residents was about the Village’s agreement with Connect Mobility, specifically whether any financial compensation was involved and why the project did not go through a tender or public notice process.
It was clarified that the Village is not receiving any compensation. Connect Mobility approached the Village for permission to use Fortis towers in the area to install a new high-speed service. The Village Council viewed this as a win-win situation, with no cost to the community while upgrading internet services for property owners and businesses. At this time, the Village is receiving no incentive to promote the service.
In researching Connect Mobility’s background, we found a similar arrangement with the Village of Standard, located 80 km east of Calgary. It appears that the actual fiber optic internet service is installed through an agreement with Fortis and an Illinois-based company called Cambium Networks.
Much like how Fortis handles electricity distribution across rural Alberta, billing and retail management are handled by retail agents such as EPCOR or Direct Energy. In this case, Connect Mobility will act as the retail agent and network manager for the proposed service in the Alberta Beach area.
The Village of Standard provides information on its internet service through Connect Mobility and the company’s owners, Merle and Karen Isaacson. A similar retailer, Northern Lights Fiber, operates in Onoway.
At FortisAlberta, we are always looking for new ways to support innovation. By using our existing pole infrastructure, we can help third-party Internet Service Providers like Connect Mobility to deliver connectivity to rural Alberta. We are pleased to be a part of this essential service solution and in turn, a part of economic growth in the province.”
Jennifer Walsh
Director, Emerging Customer Solutions
FortisAlberta
