News Article

College president appointed to national task force


1/17/2001 12:12:12 PM


Pamela Walsh, President, College of the North Atlantic

Stephenville, January 17, 2001 - College of the North Atlantic President Pamela Walsh has been appointed to the National Broadband Task Force, an arm’s-length committee set up by Industry Canada to advise the federal government on how to best make high-speed broadband internet services available to all Canadian communities by 2004.

In making the announcement, Industry Minister Brian Tobin said access to high-speed broadband will provide the foundation for improved services such as distance learning and tele-health, and will foster both regional and local economic development.

The task force includes members from every region of Canada who represent industry stakeholders, digital content producers, rural communities and aboriginal groups, as well as users in the education, library and health sectors.

“Our college, just last year, upgraded our province-wide network with high-speed broadband,” says Ms. Walsh.

“The benefits of broadband are clear, not just for the college, but for other community groups and institutions as well. For example, in some rural areas of the province where we have campuses, our network is being used by local physicians to video-conference with doctors in larger hospitals. The potential to expand upon these and other initiatives is great.”

The task force’s mandate includes consideration of, and advice on, the needs and characteristics of communities which, without government involvement, will not likely gain access to private sector-delivered high-speed services by 2004.

They will also focus on the technical, institutional and financial barriers which could delay the delivery of such services by the private sector; the roles governments might play in overcoming these barriers, and what the federal government would need to do to engage the companies and other organizations who may consider delivering these services.

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For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Officer
College of the North Atlantic
Phone: (709) 643-7928
cell: (709) 649-2010
email: stephen.lee@northatlantic.nf.ca