Infrastructure & Connectivity: Modernizing Penticton’s Core Services

Reliable communication shouldn’t be a luxury. In Penticton, unreliable cell service and recurring dead zones have become more than minor inconveniences, they are barriers to economic growth, social connection, and public safety. Addressing these connectivity gaps is a top priority for modernizing our city’s core services.

Fixing Penticton’s Connectivity Dead Zones

Connectivity is an essential utility in the 21st century. if it's a small business owner processing payments or a senior trying to call for help, we depend on a robust network. When our cell service fails, it's not just a dropped call, it’s a safety risk and a failure for our residents.

While federal regulations often dictate corporate cell provider expansion, City Hall holds the power of local planning, land use, and advocacy. We can't simply wait for the federal government or big corporations to decide when Penticton is worthy of investment.

We must use every tool at our disposal, from optimized tower siting to strategic partnerships to effective by-laws to help smaller signal points be created. To ensure our core services are modernized for the future.

I am committed to prioritizing functional infrastructure that works for everyone. By taking a proactive stance on connectivity, we can eliminate the dead zones that frustrate and endanger our community and ensure that Penticton remains a safe, attractive, and accessible place to live, work and play.

My Plan for Modern Infrastructure:

Advocate for expanded cell coverage by identifying and streamlining municipal land for tower sites in known dead zones.
Mandate connectivity assessments for all new infrastructure projects to ensure future-proofed utilities. Paid for by service providers and government grants to offset costs.
Launch a community-driven connectivity audit to formally document service gaps and hold regional providers accountable.
Work on By-laws that encourage local smaller site to site signal boosters.