First Nations Connectivity

Envision this: Your community owns and controls a high-speed information highway that helps secure a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for all. Let’s bring community-owned wired high-speed internet to Canada’ s First Nations. To protect human health and the environment we need fiber without any wireless transmitters attached to it. This will allow us to replace existing or planned wireless emissions in public and private, indoor and outdoor areas with safe and speedy wired fiber-to-the-premises.

At the 1st ever Indigenous Connectivity Summit held in Santa Fe, New Mexico in November 2017, there was a general consensus that community networks are an ideal path for Indigenous communities to empower themselves and drive their own connectivity solutions. 

What are some of the advantages a community wired-to-the-premises fiber optic network can provide? Improved emergency services and healthcare, as well as educational and economic opportunities are just some of the benefits.  

Here’s how one Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations built a fast, secure, and healthy wired network.

Science shows that wireless networks, which rely on small cell transmitters or satellites to broadcast signals, are harmful to wildlife and human health. Are you ready to build a wired-to-the-premise fiber optic network, and access the fastest, safest connectivity possible? 

In Canada, funding and support for First Nations Connectivity are available here:

□   Visit First Mile to learn about other First Nations who have developed local broadband systems.

□   Contact Pathways to Technology and ask what funding and support is available to help you complete your last mile with a fiber-optic-to-the-premise network.

□   Contact All Nations Trust about grants or loans.

□   Access the First Nations Technology Council’s Community Connectivity Resource which includes this Getting Started Checklist.

□   Explore federal First Nations Community Infrastructure funding. (Note: this is a Canadian govt web-page. If a Google privacy warning comes up when you click on this link, you may find this page by Searching: First Nations Infrastructure Fund.)