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Getting LLB connected

It took five workers four days to install a 300-foot tower last week that will connect Lac La Biche residents to high speed Internet.

It took five workers four days to install a 300-foot tower last week that will connect Lac La Biche residents to high speed Internet.

The residents, who are currently without a fast Internet connection, will be able to surf the net quicker than before, thanks to the tower that was installed just off of Highway 881 near the Bold Center.

Two tower riggers braved the -30 degree temperature and climbed the tower to build it piece by piece thanks to an industrial lever size system and their co-workers who remained on the ground. The five men crew from Okotoks were outside for more than 10 hours last Tuesday when temperatures dipped well below the freezing mark, which crew members say does have an effect on getting their job done quicker.

“The cold does slow us down so we try and do as much work inside as possible,” said Derek Campbell, a tower rigger, adding that the workers sometimes do some minor work inside their hotel rooms with small pieces.

The tower was installed as part of a $500,000 grant from both provincial and federal governments to help residents without high speed Internet service get connected. The LLB tower will give approximately 7,500-8,500 people a chance to log on to the Corridor Communications network and get online. The communications tower will also be able to connect to electrical, gas and water meters at nearby residences for data collection purposes.

“It’s a combination of usages,” said Harvey Yoder, the chair of the LLB Gas Co-op and Director of Corridor Communications.

The tower is one of three being installed in the area, with Plamondon and Hylo also on the list. More than 200 towers are being built across the province as part of the government initiative to get Albertans online.

“The main purpose of the project is to provide good, quality Internet access to all of Alberta,” said Yoder.

The LLB internet service is expected to be operating before the end of March.




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