PLNet or Community Wide Learning 1998

PLNet or Community Wide Learning

Should BC taxpayers allow the BC Government to develop a private Internet Service for only schools and government at the cost of $123 million or should everyone in BC have equal access to the Internet for $73 million in taxpayer's money? The choice should be ours only it isn't, PLNet a $123 million dollar project has been implemented by the Government of BC. All local school districts will be forced into subscribing to PLNet even though they may be presently receiving the same quality or better Internet service at less cost. (remember your property tax pays school board expenditures).

According to PLNet "The implementation of PLNet is underway with an initial series of regional meetings between school district executives, the Technology Initiative Branch of the Ministry of Education and SHL Systemhouse" (a multinational Corporation with its Canadian head Office in Ottawa)." At these meetings Technology Initiatives will provide details about funding for PLNet, proposed advisory committee structures and other policy issues".

The BC Internet Association (BCIA) is contesting the BC Governments decision. BCIA can offer the same service and also provide PUBLIC access for $50 million less. Their solution is straight forward: simply allow the schools to continue accessing the public Internet as they have already been doing through various local ISP's, negating the re invention of a duplicate Internet service and disallowing public access.

BCIA alternative plan of a Community Wide Learning Network would operate through the public Internet. The more remote areas of the school district could be provided through public companies such as Telenet and Can Com. These school districts, based on their enrollment, and geographic isolation would receive subsides which would be used to pay local established ISP's to provide public Internet connections. This approach would encourage local people to build and maintain technologically innovative services, that employ local people. If Internet service is provided through the Government PLNet then many BC schools may not qualify to receive any of the $250 million federal Internet support funds. Industry Canada has stated that community nets funded under their programs MUST provide service to ALL community members. PLNet does not meet that primary criteria.

Finally the BC Governments own justification for the PLNet stake holders (those persons or organizations who could benefit from the PLNet) lists:

Ministry of Education; Ministry of Advanced Education; Training and Technology; Ministry Municipal Affairs and Housing; Ministry of Small Business; Tourism and Culture; K-12 education; Post secondary education; Community Skills Centre; Public Libraries; Cultural Organizations; SHL Systemhouse (of course); and B.C. Telecommunications service suppliers. There is no mention of the Local ISP operator, BCIA, or the general public who are not attending any educational facility.

Since 1990 local ISPs have provided quality service to FreeNets, community networks, libraries and other special interest groups. At least 98% of the population of BC already have the ability to access the Internet, at home, at school and at work. Local ISPs have provided 3000 jobs in BC and could (given favorable conditions) create another 3 to 5 thousand new jobs over the next four years. Once again it is evident that the most cost effective way to create new jobs and new skills is through small, locally based business, who spend their wages and provide a local contact person to assist with any technical difficulties.

The PLNet refuses to share it's resources outside of government and the Education system. PLNet can provide no better or faster service than local ISP's as both services data transfer speeds are determined by the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) and not PLNet's T1 high speed connection in the Lower mainland. Technical support would be available, but not at a local level, all calls for help would be channeled through a "help desk" somewhere in Canada. No mention has been made as to whether this help would cost the customer an additional minimum hourly fee.

You can visit BCIA site and their white paper at http://www.bcia.bc.ca/pln or view the BC's Government's position at http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/PLNet/toc.h™. It should be noted that the sections entitled "Funding" and "Service Pricing" at PLNet are still under construction.