N.S. rural broadband deadline looming

It's unclear how many Nova Scotians will receive access to high-speed internet by the end of the year as promised.

Theprovincial and federal governments haveinvested $35 million in a projectto providebroadband to200,000 people in rural areas. Two partner companies, EastLink and Seaside Communications, have put up another $40 million.

The Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development says only78 of 105 EastLink sites will be done by the end of November.

A department official says EastLink admits it won't have 100 per cent coverage by the Dec. 31 deadline. The company is expected to provide an update next week.

Seaside Communications, whose zone covers the province's nine northern counties, says itmay not be able to connect everyone by Dec. 31.

"I would argue that by Christmas we'll certainly be between 90 and 95 per cent covered," said company spokesman Adam Conter.

A third company that has a small contract to connect rural residents in the Halifax Regional Municipality says its work is 85 per cent complete. But OmniGlobe Networks says it will have full coverage by the end of December andwill start signing up customers in the new year.

The lack of high-speed internet has been a barrier for many businesses in rural areas.

Philip Lamont works out of his home as a distributor of Dunlop racing tires. Without broadband, he's in a "little black hole." Hisneighbour two kilometres away between Hubbards and Blandford has high-speed internet.

Lamontquestions whether EastLink will have him connected by the end of the year.

"We don't have much faith in their promises. My view is they have developed the areas where they can make a lot of money and they are ignoring the areas where they can make a lot less," said Lamont.

The Department of Economic and Rural Development says more than 93 per cent of Nova Scotians currently have access to broadband.