What is the Balsam High Speed Initiative? Who Can Benefit? What About Cost? What are the Highspeed Options? Does Indicating Interest Lock Me In In Any Way ? I know who Bell is. Who are the other possible providers? Links to Highspeed Providers How Do I Indicate Interest ? How Do Sign up? What if I have more questions? Why Does the Signup Form Request So Much Information? How can I keep up to date on progress?

Register Your Interest in Getting High-Speed Internet Access To join the BHI with no commitment until you sign up with the provider , click here.

What is the Balsam High Speed Initiative? BHI is a private non-profit and informal association of internet users centred around Balsam Lake who are looking to obtain broadband speed internet access at reasonable cost. We have no relationship with any supplier; we are simply potential clients of whichever provider comes in first to offer people around Balsam a reliable and affordable high-speed service. Why sign up? ... Market size will influence the business decisions of the providers - they will service areas where they have a viable number of customers first. If we can show them they have a ready market here, we will be high on their list. Signing up is a way for all of us to influence their decisions. It is also a way to signal to politicians that we do not want and will not tolerate being left behind our city cousins. <top>

Who Can Benefit? >> everyone outside Coboconk, Fenelon Falls, Norland and Kinmount - cottagers & businesses both - around Balsam Lake, Head Lake, Four-Mile Lake, Baddow, - Shadow Lake system (most of the west side, top half of east side) - most of Cameron Lake (F.F. has DSL) - anyone between Kirkfield and Coby - Burnt River Note>> DSL from Bell Sympatico or Nexicom is available in Coby, Rosedale and Norland. These services extend only a limited distance from these centres (eg west or south of Norland), (e.g excludes 454-#s north of Rosedale) DSL is offered on Long Point and the west end of Balsam Lake Drive. CableCable offers wireless from a tower south of Lindsay, and their service reaches marginally to County Road 8 (assumes you arent't blocked by a hill or trees). Kirkfield and points west plus Kinmount can get Candlelight wireless service. <top>

What About Cost? Money drives everything...the more it costs, the fewer people that are interested. The revenue the service provider will see will be (the number of people) * (the price per person). The provider might be happy with 500 users at $300 for installation + $40/month, and equally happy with 50 users who pay $900 for installation and $60/month, and also equally happy with some mix in between. Note: Please check with the providers to get the up to date cost figures. Here are the links. BHI is asking how much each person is willing to pay. We add up that data form all the BHI members and give the potential providers the statistics such as X users at $300 for installation / lower-X at $400 / lower-still-X at $500 etc. The providers then can decide when to come in and where to come in, and the asking price. You can then accept or decline the price they quote. Realistic Costs:    (remember ...you are now paying $15--$20/month for dialup !) > modems alone for wireless range from 200--550$ (depends on the co.) now, but should decline next year. > installation is like satellite TV installation - figure 100$ > government subsidy?????? maybe... > the installation cost could also be spread out over say a 24-month contract....the providers will come up with packages. > for example, some providers rent you the modem for 5$ -- $15/month (it varies) instead of adding it to the installation cost. Stated Wireless Costs from various providers - subject to change Note: cost is not the only consideration. provider here when? installation price monthly minimum # users comments Nexicom no plans $100 $45/mo n/a too bad they service only Peterboro Candlelight when there are 30 of us $1300+- $40/mo 30 users unrealistic price point Candlelight when there are >>30 of us reasonable? $40/mo 70 users ? a guess..no hard info on this CableCable no plans yet $200 $40/mo n/a can't be sure this will apply to us CobyComputers when there are 300 of us $200 $35/mo 300 users can we get 300? Bell when there are 75 of us $600 $65/mo 75 users expensive. Note: Please check with the providers to get the up to date cost figures. Here are the links. Comparing to Costs in the City: DSL and cable internet are about 45$ / month, and installation by yourself is free. They charge if they do the installation. For example, CableCable charge $200 for installation and $40/month. For example, Nexicom (services north of Peterboro / no plans to come here) charges wireless comparably to DSL: 45/mo + 100 for installation. Bell and Candlelight have so far not mentionned wireless installation prices this low. Wireless and satellite solutions require a trained technician for installation. To check the detailed predicted costs for all the highspeed technology options, click here. Your Cost Tolerance: You should tell us what you are willing to pay as a one-time installation charge and the monthly fee. We'll do the rest. But you will always get the last word. <top>

What are the Highspeed Options? At the moment, the best option around Balsam which would benefit everyone is wireless (terrestrail or satellite). I see no evidence that Bell is interested in expanding DSL in the area, but since I have had no reply to my questions, I cannot say for sure. My personal conclusion is that DSL has been deplyed where it was profitable, and will not be expanded except where new phone cables might go in. I also suspect that Inukshuk (Bell & Rogers together deploying a wireless mobile internet technology called EVDO, and marketted separately by Bell and Rogers) will not reach our area until at least mid 2007, maybe mid 2008. (Again my pessimism is based on no feedback from Bell on its plans.) So, since I need it now, I opted for Xplornet 2-way satellite-based internet. (Note, each provider is the authoritative source for his data. Here are the links.) (1) Terrestrial Fixed-Location Wireless current technology & service (3 Mbps): Candlelight currently provide wireless with speeds up to 3 Mbps. Their current service covers Kirkfield and points west, plus near Kinmount. Except for Kinmount, their prices quoted to us are comparatively high to service a new (ie our) area (this may change) . CableCable have good prices but has no plans to come our way this year. Their current service covers from Lindsay up to near County Road 8. Nexicom have the best wireless prices, but service only north of Peterboro, and have no plans to come our way. Bell and Coby Computers say they will provide it (dates not set). All require a number of committed clients before they will proceed in our area. Installation / start-up cost will depend on the number of clients and the supplier. If we have enough, we should get it down to the $400 range or lower ($200 possibly). Cost per month should come out similar to DSL - 40-50$/mo. Click here for more details of the stated wireless prices from various providers (but remember to check with the supplier for definitive information) (2)Advanced Terrestrial Wireless Technology: WiMax Bell is now testing WiMAX ... see the recent article This promises even higher speeds (5 Mbps, theoretically 10). Something to consider for the future. EVDO EVDO is a similar technology for mobile broadband internet, now launched by both Rogers & Bell jointly as Innukshuk. They use different marketting names for this product. It supposedly delivers 2 Mbps or so, but some tests have shown it delivers only 500 kbps in some cases. Current rollout (August 2006) is pretty complete coverage in urban areas - Toronto & Barrie. Bell has not responded to my inquiry about their expansion plans in our direction. (3) DSL from Bell-Sympatico or resellers Nexicom & Telnet DSL (digital subscriber line) provides up to 3 Mbps but only within 3 km or so of a Bell central office, or in some cases, a new DSL centre. Range over old "loaded" lines is reduced. Fenelon Falls and Coby, and now Rosedale and Norland have it, but outside town, it depends critically upon which cable you are on. You can test to see if DSL is available to you at this link. Register with them too. Amtelecom (Cambray Teleco) are now supplying DSL to Long Point. Telnet Communications (took over Quicklinks) piggyback on Bell and may be supplying the west end of Balsam using Bell's DSL. Similarly, I'm told Nexicom does this near Norland. Bell have told me they are working on a new DSL technology that can expand the range, but deployment will require 75 users and a 2-year commitment. I'm waiting for more info from Bell, since they seem to be deploying DSL quite quickly, and the new technology they mentionned may be the ticket. The problem is that we'd need 75 users down every cable. (4) 2-way Satellite -- ExploreNet have a variety of plans and products. installation cost is ~ $800, then 60-200/month (60 for 512 k home use) -- Galaxy Broadband have basically one product..the choice between these two suppliers depends on what your uses are. -- Bell predict deployment late in summer of 2005 / Program Source and Explore have it now. -- Speed is typically 512 kbps (vs dialup 28.8--45 kbps; while DSL, cable & wireless are >~ 2Mbps) -- Bell expect to charge $500 installation + $65/month ($500 waived if we get > 25 users) >>> now recommended unless you can wait till AT LEAST 2007 for terrestrial wireless (5) ExpressVu 1-Way Satellite -- expensive and relatively slow (500 kbps). -- Your phone is tied up for the uplink (dialup) >>> not recommended at all (6) Cellular Wireless (eg 1x) Both Rogers, Bell & Telus offer this option. It's usefulness is limited to those who are close to the right cellular tower. Speed -- Rogers = 112 kbps     Bell = 144 kbps Rogers cost ----a $400 card for your laptop plus hefty monthly fees ($60 & up for practical use). Bell cost ------a $??? card for your laptop + $100/mo unlimited use or fee-per-use >>> not recommended unless we are still left out in late 2006 <top>

Does Indicating Interest Lock Me In In Any Way ? No. Only the contract with the future provider will do that, and only for the time you commit to..probably 2 years. <top>

I know who Bell is. Who are these other possible providers? Candlelight Candlelight is a wireless internet provider based in Muskoka, and expanding our way. The nearest tower is at Hwys 12 & 48. Their website shows the coverage extending eastward to barely Kirkfield. The rest of us need them to expand. They also put in a tower in Kinmount...just operational ~ June 23, and its range will not likely extend to Burnt River or Norland or beyond the top of Shadow lake or 4-mile Lake. I have heard that a 60' tower would be needed for Four-Mile Lake. See their website for a coverage map. CableCable CableCable offer internet connectivty around Lindsay by cable and by wireless (since 2003). The told me their tower south of Lindsay reaches to County Road 8 (assuming trees and hills are not in the way). CobyComputers Note: Their storefront in Coby is closed, so one might presume to be out of business CobyComputers are based in their store (computer servicing, rental, internet cafe etc.) right in Coboconk. Their strength is local service. They have been planning to offer wireless in 2005. Nexicom & Telnet In our area, these companies buy DSL wholesale from Bell, and resell it, offering local service as their "plus". Links to Highspeed Providers <top>

How Do I Indicate Interest ?         How Do I sign Up? All the information we need to interest a potential provider is recorded on the BHI registration form. We will give contact details to the provider (other than numbers and geographic locations of clients) only when a provider is ready to commit to providing service. Click here to sign up to register your interest in high speed internet. <top>

Why Does the Interest Form Request So Much Information ? The terrestrial wireless providers need to know precisely where their clients are located, so they can plan the location of their towers. Hills, valleys, trees, which towers are already available to rent space on, where new shorty towers could go -- all are inputs to determining coverage and cost of providing the service. Also, they obviously need to know how to contact prospective clients to arrange installation. (We will not give this information out until a provider is serious.) <top>

What if I have more questions? Email me at the.lake@xplornet.com <top>

What if I can't open the form on my computer? Some of you may have an earlier form of MS Office and Excel. In this case, please use the textform version of the form instead. Then follow steps 2-3-4 above. <top>

How Can I Keep Up to Date on Progress? I will keep you up to date via this website on the news page. This page shows the membership in BHI. <top>

Links to Current and Possible Highspeed Providers Here are links to the providers that we know of who do or who may potentially provide wireless or DSL service to our area. If you learn of another one, please let us know. wireless wired (cable/phoneline) Bell Bell Coby Computers (appears to be out of business) Amtelecom (Cambray Phone co) Cable Cable Cable Cable Candlelight Telnet (took over Quicklinks) Xplornet (satellite) <--what I use   Galaxy Broadband) (satellite)   <top>

Please note: By supplying your information, you are authorizing me to use it for the purpose of of promoting and obtaining high speed internet access for the Balsam Lake area, and this is the ONLY use to which it will be put, and I undertake to take reasonable precautions to ensure this.

David Fournier, Balsam Lake resident the.lake@xplornet.com