GTONS ~ What is it ?GTONS ~ What is it ?

• Gold Trail Open Network Society (GTONS)

• Registered, not for profit organization

• Dedicated to Broadband Internet Connectivity

• Agent for School District connectivity

GTONS ~ Who ?GTONS ~ Who ?

• Open membership

• Any person/agency with specific interest

• Founding members represent– School District #74

– Open Learning Agency

– TNRD Library System

– Copper Valley Cablevision

– FN Education Council

• Initiative started by Gold Country communities

GTONS ~ Where ?GTONS ~ Where ?

312 4th Street, Ashcroft, BC

Phone/fax: 250-453-9211

www.gtnet.ca

GTONS ~ Where ?GTONS ~ Where ?

Cache CreekCache Creek

AshcroftAshcroftLillooetLillooet

ClintonClinton

Logan LakeLogan Lake

LyttonLytton

Canoe CreekCanoe Creek

SetonPortageSetonPortage

BonaparteBonaparteT’it’q’etT’it’q’et SkeetchestnSkeetchestn

SiskaSiska

VenablesVenables

PavilionPavilion

Big BarBig Bar

Spences BridgeSpences Bridge

ShalalthShalalth

Gold BridgeGold Bridge

Dog CreekDog CreekGang RanchGang Ranch Lone ButteLone Butte

70 Mile House70 Mile House

ChasmChasmJesmondJesmond

SavonaSavonaWalhachinWalhachin

MountCurrieMountCurrie

BirkenBirkenD'ArcyD'Arcy

BralorneBralorne

Green LakeGreen Lake

Loon LakeLoon Lake

16 Mile16 Mile

Hat CreekHat CreekGun LakeGun Lake

TyaxTyax

PembertonMeadowsPembertonMeadows

Highland ValleyHighland Valley

FountainAcademyFountainAcademy

GTONS Network ~ NowGTONS Network ~ Now

INTERNET

Logan LakeLogan Lake

AshcroftAshcroft

Spences BridgeSpences Bridge

LyttonLytton

LillooetLillooet

Gold BridgeGold Bridge

ClintonClinton

CacheCreekCacheCreek

ShalalthShalalthSetonPortageSetonPortage

GTONS Network ~ FutureGTONS Network ~ Future

Cache CreekCache Creek

AshcroftAshcroftLillooetLillooet

ClintonClinton

Logan LakeLogan Lake

LyttonLytton

Canoe CreekCanoe Creek

SetonPortageSetonPortage

BonaparteBonaparteT’it’q’etT’it’q’et

SkeetchestnSkeetchestn

SiskaSiska

VenablesVenables

PavilionPavilion

Big BarBig Bar

Spences BridgeSpences Bridge

ShalalthShalalth

Gold BridgeGold Bridge

Dog CreekDog CreekGang RanchGang Ranch Lone ButteLone Butte

70 Mile House70 Mile House

ChasmChasm

JesmondJesmond

SavonaSavonaWalhachinWalhachin

MountCurrieMountCurrie

BirkenBirken

D'ArcyD'Arcy

BralorneBralorne

Green LakeGreen Lake

Loon LakeLoon Lake

16 Mile16 MileHatCreekHatCreekGun LakeGun Lake

TyaxTyax

PembertonMeadowsPembertonMeadows

Highland ValleyHighland ValleyFountainAcademyFountainAcademy

PembertonPemberton

INTERNET

GTONS ~ When ? Why ?GTONS ~ When ? Why ?

• Incorporated in September 2002

• To assume technology development activities initiated by Gold Country Communities Society (GCCS)

HISTORY ~ Internet in this RegionHISTORY ~ Internet in this Region

• 1990Internet? What the heck is that?

• 1995School District 74 (SD74) develops wide area network

• 1996 SD74 & GCCS partner to:

–Seek Federal funding for public internet access sites (CAP Sites)

–Allow local toll-free dial-up into the SD74 Wide Area Network (WAN)

HISTORY ~ Internet in this RegionHISTORY ~ Internet in this Region

• 1998PLNet provides fibre optic connectivity from SD74 to Victoria

• 1999Partnership receives grant from OLT for a Regional Learning Network

• 1999 Partnership allows Copper Valley Cable to offer cable internet service in Ashcroft/Cache Creek

HISTORY ~ Internet in this RegionHISTORY ~ Internet in this Region

• 2000 Copper Valley partnership builds fibre optic network in Ashcroft

and Cache Creek connecting schools, libraries, and government

agencies

• 2001Similar Fibre Optic network aggregation begun in Lillooet

HISTORY ~ Internet in this RegionHISTORY ~ Internet in this Region

• 2001Interior Science Innovation Council (ISIC) provides funding to purchase fibre optic splicing and testing equipment

• 2002 eLearning project funded by CANARIE

• 2003Broadband business plan development funded by Industry Canada

SUCCESS is Choking UsSUCCESS is Choking Us

• Community dial-up and home use

• “Computers For Schools” distribution of computers to needy homes for SD74

• Internet traffic has increased so significantly that dial-up is no longer adequate for the area

WHY GTONS ?WHY GTONS ?

• Provincial and Federal agencies requested a regional group dedicated to broadband internet development

• GTONS evolved for this purpose

• History of success with technology development funding agencies

• Open-ended public private partnership bringing collective expertise to this project

GTONS ~ AssociationsGTONS ~ Associations

• Member - Pacific Community Network Assoc.

• Member – BC Internet Assoc

• Member - BICSI

• Member – CAP and BC Broadband Champions groups

• Associated with Interior Science Innovation Council

• Associated with Industry Canada, CANARIE, CaNet, BCNet, PLNet

• Associated with Telecommunities Canada, part of Global Community Network (United Nations)

• Direct programming with BC Open Learning Agency

• CAP management contractor

FINANCIAL Impact to DateFINANCIAL Impact to Date

• $340, 000 in CAP projects

• $300,000 in OLT grants

• $194,780 in youth employment

• $75,000 in RHT grants

• $130,000 CAP connectivity (March/03)

• $120,000 CAP connectivity (2003/04)

FINANCIAL Impact to DateFINANCIAL Impact to Date

• $285,000 CANARIE grant

• $10,000 INAC (expected)

• $15,000 ISIC

• $30,000 BRAND

• TOTAL - $1,509,780

WHO BENEFITS ?WHO BENEFITS ?

The individual and the Community

• Small communities are not serviced by commercial interest

• Education

• Health Services

• Alternative methods of accessing information is required

WHO BENEFITS ?WHO BENEFITS ?

Local Business

• Expand markets

• Going global

• Access supplies and information

• Compete with Urban counterparts

• Community Economic Development

WHO BENEFITS ?WHO BENEFITS ?

Canada

• Fulfilling government objective of Broadband service for every Canadian by 2004

• GTONS is not a beneficiary, just a conduit

WHY These Communities?WHY These Communities?

• Geographically

• Existing connections through SD74

• Need

• All communities will have equal opportunity

• Neighbouring networks already under development

• Less down time

WHAT Happens Next ?WHAT Happens Next ?

• Establish participation and access needs

• Determine what various partners need from and what they can contribute to Broadband network

• Identify opportunities for aggregation with corporate and government agencies

• Identify technical requirements and development restrictions

• Develop the Broadband Business Plan

• Present plan to Industry Canada prior to May 22