Public Notice

Cold Lake First Nations LTE Fixed Wireless Upgrade Project – Public Comments Invited

January 22, 2021 – Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Cold Lake First Nations LTE Fixed Wireless Upgrade Project, located near the City of Cold Lake, Alberta, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Infrastructure Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/Protection?culture=en-CA).

Written comments must be submitted by February 21, 2020 to:

Mark Libby, Junior Environmental Review and Approvals Officer, Infrastructure Canada (mark.libby2@canada.ca)

The Proposed Project

The Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN) LTE Fixed Wireless Upgrade Project (the "Project") will install Long Term Evolution (LTE) fixed wireless equipment using the Community Broadband Radio Service band on both existing and new towers located on all three of CLFN's populated reserves. The Project will provide LTE wireless broadband services to approximately 600 homes at CLFN and other residences and businesses outside of CLFN that seek improved internet connectivity. The LTE equipment will replace CLFN's dated WiMAX technology.

The Project includes three phases:

Phase 1 will upgrade three existing towers with new LTE radios and associated hardware and equipment. In this phase, there will also be upgrades to 40 customer premise equipment (CPE) radios to allow access to the new services and enable access to over 300 new users. One tower will increase in height from 64 ft to 80 ft to improve coverage;

Phase 2 will upgrade two existing towers with new LTE radios and associated hardware and equipment. In this phase, there will be upgrades to another 40 CPE radios to allow access to the new services and enable access to over 200 new users. Both towers will increase in height from 64 ft to 80 ft; and

Phase 3 will install two new 80 ft towers with new LTE radios, new backhaul radios and associated hardware and equipment.

The Project supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions' Calls to Action for Indigenous people and will provide better internet access to all community members, which will allow them to engage in the digital economy; allow for community members to better access the internet for online training opportunities; attract businesses that currently rely on stable internet access and higher bandwidth, currently not available in most areas in the community; support CLFN's IT based emergency response and emergency preparedness efforts; and increase overall quality of life for community members.