Two N.L. communities raise $80,000 to bring cell tower to the region

Fed up with lack of cellular service, two western Newfoundland communities have raised the necessary funds to bring a cell tower to their region.

A committee of Mainland and Three Rock Cove residents tried everything from talent shows, pumping gas, organizing dances and door-knocking to raise the approximate sum of $80,000 needed to green-light the project.

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Wendy Brake of the Newfoundland and Labrador Francophone Economic Development Network said she had been working with the communities over the need for cell reception since 2016.

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She said the issue caused safety concerns, hindered economic development for local businesses and entrepreneurs, negatively affected tourism and drove young people to move away.

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The small French-speaking communities had to amass 15 per cent of the cell tower’s costs under a funding agreement with the provincial government and Bell Mobility.

A statement from the province’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation says that by last October’s deadline it had received 10 proposals for a pilot project to bring cellular coverage to more communities.