The City of Cold Lake is looking into the need for fiber optic internet in the community.
Officials said by gathering feedback from residents, the hope is to attract investors to make the required infrastructure available throughout the city.
According to the City, staff frequently receive complaints from residents who are frustrated with their current internet service provider.
“These complaints come alongside concerns from individuals who mistakenly believe the City has delayed the installation of fiber optic infrastructure necessary for faster connections,” the City stated in a news release.
At the September Corporate Priorities Committee Meeting, administration notified mayor and council that fiber optic cable has been installed in parts of the city, but there are significant portions of Cold Lake that do not have fiber optic infrastructure available.
Officials said these areas have not been fitted with fiber optic cable because, “Companies have not deemed the business case strong enough to warrant the investment.”
“Any notion that the City has stood in the way of the installation of fiber could not be further from the truth,” mayor Bob Mattice said. “If anything, over the past decade, our staff and Cold Lake’s elected leadership has been willing to work with internet service providers to expedite the installation of fiber optic cable.”
City administration said the municipality has multiple internet service providers, with some coming up with options for local customers to access high speed internet in the absence of fiber optic cable.
Officials noted that the City has also been installing a fiber optic backbone from north to south whenever underground utility work has allowed for the installation of conduit. That work has been done to make sure the City can connect its facilities with fiber optic connections, but officials said that infrastructure can also be made available to internet service providers, if required.
“We are happy to see a competitive market locally with lots of options for people to choose from, but we still lack the ability to have all of our commercial and residential properties serviced with a high-speed internet connection,” Mattice said.
“In this day and age, we are hoping to catch up to ensure that none of our residents are left behind and that all of our commercial areas have access to the internet speeds they need to compete.”
City administration is set to canvass residents and businesses to accurately gauge the availability and demand for high-speed internet in Cold Lake.
