Another 30,000 homes, businesses eligible for N.S. satellite internet program

Eligibility has once again been expandedforan $8.5-millionprogram designed to help the Nova Scotia government meet its promise toprovide almost every home and business in the province with high-speed internet.

The Satellite Internet Service Rebate is now available to any home or business thatdoes not have access to wired or wireless internet service.

When the program was launched four months ago, a government news release saidthe rebatewas restricted to the 3,700 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia "for which no other internet service solution" hadbeen found.

Two weeks later, another 2,200 residences and businesses were added to the programfor those who were not expected to gain access to wired or wireless internet until after Dec. 31, 2023.

30,000 more homes, businesses

The government announced Wednesday it was dropping that restriction, and allowinganyone who wantssatellite-basedinternettobuy and install the equipment neededand have those costs covered by the provinceup to $1,000.

A provincial spokesperson said an additional 30,000 or so homes and businesses arenow eligible for the program.

Susan Corkum-Greek, the province's economic development minister, saidthe move was designed to bring high-speed connectivity to more people sooner.

"We now open this program to anyone who does not at this moment have the fibre," she said.

"They can, if they so wish, go with a satellite [service] even as we continue to roll out the fibreto those communities."

Lukewarm response

Corkum-Greek said the rebate program has been a success despite "not a startling number" of applications.

In an email Thursday to CBC News, provincial spokesperson Shannon Kerr said 490 applications had been received. Of those, Kerr said 446 wereapproved.

"Those not approved are due to ineligible addresses or incomplete applications," wrote Kerr.

Corkum-Greek said the provincial government was not deterred by the numbers. She said 130 applications had come in since the eligibility requirements were expanded.

"Some Nova Scotians will look at this and still decide that they will wait for the fibreoption," said Corkum-Greek. "But we know other Nova Scotians are chomping at the bit.

"They need this because of social connectivity, because of economic opportunities. They really can't wait any longer."