A study is being done in central Alberta to investigate ways to expand and enhance broadband services and connectivity in the region.

Central Alberta Economic Partnership started the Regional Broadband Preparedness Project to assess the region's current and desired future needs regarding internet services.

Kimberley Worthington, Executive Director for CAEP, said better internet service is especially important in rural communities.

“Some of them are still on dial-up. We are in the 21st century so it’s time to get them the internet service they require so that they can grow their economic sustainability,” said Worthington.

“It’s a real economic driver. More and more businesses are interested in locating to communities that are going to be able to serve them with quality internet in a cost-effective way.”

Worthington said the issue is that there is an urban and rural divide between cost effectiveness and the quality of internet service.

“Our hope is, regionally, we can create more of a business case for the rural parts of Alberta and the region,” said Worthington.

The CRTC has recently identified broadband internet as a basic communication service that all Canadians need to have to be a fully engaged citizen.

“Uploads and download speeds are very important. We are working to create a more sustainable service and more of an engaged region,” said Worthington.

Craig Dobson, President of Taylorwarwick Consulting Limited, will be working with CAEP on the project and said he believes internet should be recognized as a utility.

“If you were to do it as a utility and put in one high-quality infrastructure for a community like water, power or sewer that all the incumbents or all the other players could use, we could actually get better service throughout the entire province,” said Dobson.

The expected cost of the project is $40,000. Up to $20,000 will be provided by the Alberta government, $5,000 by Battle River Alliance for Economic Development and $15,000 by CAEP.

The study is set to be completed by the spring.