Fed up with overpaying for obsolete, squealing dial-up service and second phone lines, and tired of waiting for long promised, outdated wireless “high speed” internet service to be provided, residents of the communities from Young’s Cove to Delaps Cove want to build their own fiberoptic “fiber to the home” system. The system would allow residents to have access to 21st century communication services - true broadband internet, high definition TV, radio signals from all over the world and streaming video - opening opportunities for education, employment and entertainment.

Residents are conducting a petition drive to document support for their plan to request a loan from the County of Annapolis to get the job done, and then repay the money over the next twenty years as an additional amount each year on their tax bills. This method is commonly used to provide streetlights and road paving, but has never been applied to a high tech project in Annapolis County.

On December 30, 2009 - having delayed their official announcement to the public for as long as possible - Eastlink issued a “Rural Broadband for Nova Scotia” High Speed Internet email newsletter admitting that “not all areas will be launched by the end of December”. With a nod of recognition to the contractual obligations that the $20 Million of government funding has placed upon them, Eastlink stated that they remain “fully committed to 100% coverage” but were vague as to when that might happen.

The email newsletter included a list of communities that were “Currently in Service” as well as a list of communities “To be launched by the end of December”. Fundy Coast residents in the areas of Mount Hanley, Douglas Road, Mosher’s Corner, Victoria Vale, Gates Mountain, Margaretsville and Forest Glade were surprised to learn that they had access to high speed service - but following numerous phone calls it was determined that this was only a cruel joke. Service was not really available and Eastlink had “mistakenly” listed those communities as completed. In follow-up nearly a month later, as of press time (late January), a few addresses along Stronach Mountain Road in Forest Glade had been provided access to wireless service.

The Fundy Coast Photo Contest for 2010 is now accepting entries! This annual contest is sponsored by Fundy Communities Development Association and invites submissions from all photographers - amateur and professional alike - of images captured along the Nova Scotia Fundy Coast between Margaretsville and Delaps Cove. Photographs may feature landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, and/or folks engaged in the varied activities of life along the shore.

Entries will be accepted through September 1, 2010. At that time all submissions will be reviewed and thirteen images will be selected as winners for the year. The winning photographs will be featured in the locally designed and produced glossy full color 2011 Fundy Coast Calendar. Winning photographers receive full photo credit in the calendar as well as a complimentary copy of this popular calendar.

Keep your camera handy, and if you have a great photo that you'd like to enter into the contest, please email your high resolution digital image to: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . If you wish to submit multiple images to the contest, please place your collection on a CD/DVD and mail to: FCDA, 30 School Street, Parker's Cove, NS B0S 1K0. Feel free to enter as often as you like and good luck to all!