About
Corridor Communications Inc. (CCI Wireless) is an internet service provider for residents of rural Alberta. It is the product of nine founding Alberta natural gas co-ops who, in 2007, realized that broadband internet was "the next electricity". Still fully Alberta-operated and true to its grassroots ownership, CCI now offers one of the largest internet and phone coverage areas in the province. Our mission is to deliver high speed internet to the under-served and under-connected. We pride ourselves on customizing connectivity solutions for communities and enterprise clients across 200+ carrier-grade towers and over 200,000 square kilometers.
Project Overview
Through a media scan, I discovered the CBC Edmonton article, Sluggish internet slows growth, frustrates businesses in small-town Alberta. I wrote copy for a letter to the editor response from CCI Wireless to contribute to the discussion of lacklustre rural internet connectivity in Alberta, as the company exists specifically to combat this social issue. My team members edited and sent it off as an official corporate response after I acted as project lead.
CCI Wireless
Corridor Communications, Inc.
#137, 465 Aviation Road NE
Calgary, AB
T2E 7H8
Re: Article published in CBC Edmonton on January 9, 2019 entitled Sluggish internet slows growth, frustrates businesses in small-town Alberta
January 11, 2019
Dear editor,
CCI Wireless is an Alberta-owned internet service provider specializing in providing connectivity to the under-served. Our mission is to connect rural and remote areas to the internet, thereby enabling the longterm success of small communities and helping to narrow the digital divide. We mainly connect rural Albertans via fixed-wireless solutions, among other entrepreneurial approaches, to allow access to high speed internet which would otherwise be unaffordable.
CCI began with nine founding Alberta natural gas co-ops who, in 2007, realized that broadband internet was "the next electricity". In Wednesday's article, Dustin Medori, president of Academy Fabricators is quoted as saying "[internet] needs to be viewed as an essential service. No different than water and electricity."
Ensuring that Albertans have sufficient economic and social opportunities now, and in the future, is CCI's reason for being. We appreciate the attention that was brought to the issue of inconsistent rural connectivity across the province through this recent article.
If you are interested in our perspective on rural Alberta connectivity, we would love to provide an opportunity for CBC to speak with the CCI leadership team. Our Chief Executive Office Jordan Young is passionate about empowering the rural way of life through wireless innovation. Originally from Wainwright, Mr. Young joined CCI in 2017. You may also speak with our Director of Outside Sales, Graham Fleet, who has watched the company grow since 2013. He has accumulated years of on-the-ground, in-the-community experience working with community and business leaders across Alberta.
The scope of difficulty in making a business case for high speed internet in low-density areas is not understood by many stakeholders. With our unique co-op origins, there are several small municipalities we connect to the internet by partnering locally. In these cases, our goal isn't to ear a profit, but rather to empower under-served communities. Both an innovative approach and support from federal and provincial bodies is necessary for Albertans to meet speeds recommended by the CRTC.
As for Onoway, as mentioned in the article, CCI's services cover this area and the rest of Lac Ste. Anne County. CCI worked closely with the local government of nearby Parkland County's "Smart Parkland" project, where we now provide 11 wireless towers. We are proud to offer internet packages that allow rural residents to stream video content and operate home businesses.
After reading the CBC Edmonton article, we have reached out to the two business owners who were quoted to find out whether CCI can help better meet their entrepreneurial internet needs.
About CCI Wireless
Corridor Communications Inc. (CCI Wireless) is an internet service provider for residents of rural Alberta. It is the product of nine founding Alberta natural gas co-ops who, in 2007, realized that broadband internet was "the next electricity". Still fully Alberta-operated and true to its grassroots ownership, CCI now offers one of the largest internet and phone coverage areas in the province. Our mission is to deliver high speed internet to the under-served and under-connected. We pride ourselves on customizing connectivity solutions for communities and enterprise clients across 200+ carrier-grade towers and over 200,000 square kilometers.
Media Contact
Alice Towler
CCI Wireless
Office: (587) 952-0399
Email: alicet@corp.cciwireless.ca
Visit: www.cciwireless.ca
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