FAQs

Once Develop Nova Scotia (DNS) assesses and approves the projects submitted for its call for proposals (so far DNS has had three proposal intakes, resulting in Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects, along with Scope Expansion/Phase 3 projects), the successful ISP company determines project details with DNS (timing; scope; service levels; etc) based on the ISP's capacity and specific project area needs.  

For Develop Nova Scotia's Phase 1 projects, Bell, for instance, was awarded 28 different projects to complete across the province. Because Bell does not have the internal capacity to work on all projects simultaneously, all projects were scheduled in a sequence. Bell's engineering team sequenced the projects based upon the work within each project as well as project coordination with Nova Scotia Power (and the resulting impact on its work program) and permits required from the Department of Lands & Forestry.

For each project, Bell establishes the following milestones:

• Milestone 1A -- data collection from the project area that will guide the design of the fibre network for that project. 
• Milestone 1B -- completed engineering package which includes detailed design and results in fibre orders being placed with Corning. Bell notes that every piece of cable is custom made for the section of road it will be placed so that terminal stubs all land at the appropriate pole locations.  
• Milestone 2 -- securing permits with the Department of Lands & Forestry and coordinating "make ready" work by NS Power. The addition of cables and additional loading on poles requires NS Power to make changes to pole infrastructure. This involves replacing some poles, adding anchors, and so on. NS Power goes to the field to review this information once Bell has provided their engineering package for the internet project. In addition, Bell and/or NS Power must secure Department of Lands & Forestry permits where Bell's cable will be placed at a water crossing or where work needs to be completed in the vicinity of a water crossing. This is a fairly lengthy process to complete with the Department.
• Milestone 3 -- tree trimming and fibre construction. There will inevitably be some overlap between Milestones 2 and 3 as Bell does not wait until everything is completed in Milestone 2 before commencing construction activities. 
• Milestone 4 -- commissioning of the fibre network and opening the area for connections and service.

If you are not able to resolve your issue directly with your current internet provider, consider contacting the following federal agencies that provide regulatory frameworks for Internet Service Providers and set minimum download/upload speeds: 

• Public Interest Advocacy Centre - a consumer-advocacy group based in Ottawa that specializes in Canadian telecommunications and can provide information regarding contracts & pricing issues.
  Contact: piac@piac.ca | 1-613-562-4002
   
• Canadian Commission for Complaints - an independent agency that works with consumers & telecommunications companies to resolve customer complaints.
  Contact: www.ccts-cprst.ca | 1-888-221-1687
  
  

• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) - developed the Internet Code so that customers of internet access services are better informed of their rights and responsibilities contained in their contracts with Internet service providers.
  Contact: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/contact | 1-877-249-2782