Ketchikan voters approve bond plan for funding of fibre cable to Prince Rupert

Ketchikan residents it would seem want access to the world of the Internet through their own dedicated fibre link, that after a majority of those who voted in Monday's municipal election voted in the affirmative on a Proposition initiative.

We outlined the background to the vote earlier this week, with Ketchikan voters asked to endorse the proposition that would access 11.5 million dollars towards the fibre optic link to Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert's CityWest no doubt would have had an interest in following the vote, with the Northwest Communication company part of the initial planning for the project.

As we noted earlier this year, CityWest had  outlined its plans as part of a management plan with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources.

Ketchikan Public Utilities has not outlined any timeline now that they have the green light from residents, but as Ketchikan's Public radio station KRBD notes, the enthusiasm to get moving on the project is strong for KPU which observed as to how the project will remove the need to rent fibre space which currently costs the utility one million dollars a year.

The Monday election also delivered a new Mayor for the city, with Rodney Dial besting the two other contenders for the Mayoralty, former Mayor Dave Landis had to step aside owing to term limits, however he will return to the Borough Assembly as a council member.

For more items of note on our neighbours to the north see our archive page here.