Lac Ste. Anne County’s decision to move forward with installing an array of communications towers is a welcome development that will have wide-reaching benefits for each and every county resident.
Although it’s estimated to take close to a decade for the array to be in place, once complete it will provide better Internet and cellular service to the county’s many rural residents.
And there are virtually no downsides.
With a better communications system in place, it will make Lac Ste. Anne County a more attractive place for people to live, and likely draw more residents who want a more relaxed lifestyle while still being connected to the wider world.
Beyond connecting people to each other, the towers have also been designed to enhance the county’s fire, ambulance and police services by providing a stronger source for the EMS signals. With a stronger signal comes the ability to ensure that fewer calls go unanswered, which keeps everyone safer. Who could argue with that?
As the world evolves, it becomes more and more necessary to be able to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world at any time. No longer is sending a letter good enough in almost any situation.
Where we once could conduct business dealings at a snail’s pace because we were dealing with our next-door neighbour, we are now engaging in business at break-neck speeds with companies across the ocean. As many people will say, ‘If you’re not there yesterday, you’re already too late.’
Getting all of Alberta’s residents, no matter where they live, connected to the rest of the world is a noble goal. That Lac Ste. Anne County sees the need to do so speaks to the value of that connection.
As Reeve Lloyd Giebelhaus put it during the project open house in Darwell on Feb. 16, installing the towers and providing the service is driven by the desire to ensure rural Albertans have the same amenities that the urban population has.
In short, it’s to make sure rural Albertans are not punished or disadvantaged by their choice not to live in a city. No one should feel like a second-class citizen of the province, country or world simply because that person has chosen to live in a more remote location.
What has also been good to see is that people are not looking at the issue in black and white. They’re not seeing a tower going up and raising a stink over unfounded health concerns. Instead, they’re seeing the towers as tools for a better life.
And those people who have had concerns have been reassured when Geibelhaus explained the towers’ purpose and how the towers will benefit everyone.
