Phone service, internet access explored.

Wahnapitae First Nation plans to bring telephone and high-speed data services to their community.

Lloyd Research Group Inc. has been contracted to do a feasibility study to research funding sources, and determine and analyse solutions and options in consultation with Wahnapitae First Nation leaders and administrators.

The Wahnapitae community does not even have phone services, let alone high-speed Internet connections.

"At the band office we have two radio phones and that's it," explains Peter Recollet, director of sustainable development.

Wahnapitae is looking into various areas of telecommunications and technologies such as telephones, Internet connection, fax services and digital cable.

Lloyd Research Group is conducting community and business surveys through a census method.

Lloyd Research hired two members of the community to go door to door and deliver the survey.

The First Nation is now working on a feasibility study, says Daniel Kaltiainen of the Lloyd Research Group.

The groups know that it is feasible and practical to bring the services to the community, but because Wahnapitae is working with FedNor the numbers and research have to be done.

"Once the feasibility study is complete, and we have given Wahnapitae different options, they will choose one and start to work on the funding to develop it," says Kaltiainen.

"We will create options that will offer them a broad range of services along with room for growth," Kaltianen says. "We don't want to lock them in, leaving them to go through this process again in a few years when the need for other services arrives.

"Right now we're talking to businesses and corporations outside of the community, offering them partnerships to invest in Wahnapitae."

Recollet expects the investment in telecommunication services will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.

"The lack of communication services has been a huge economic barrier," Recollet says. "We've lost major business opportunities because there are no means of communication."

The feasibility study is only the first phase of three. Lloyd Research Group expect to complete their report and make recommendations by the end of May. Following the report, Wahnapitae First Nations will start working on phase two - funding.