Iqaluit (Dec 13/04) - Nunavut's community surfers eager to access the Internet using broadband technology will have to wait at least a few weeks longer thanexpected.

The Nunavut Broadband Development Corp. (NBDC) had hoped to launch the service territory-wide by Christmas.

But last week NBDC said a delay in the completion of the paperwork on a $750,000 a year federal bandwidth subsidy would delay the launch untilat least January.

"It's not sustainable without (the bandwidth subsidy). They know that and we know that," said Lorraine Thomas of the Nunavut Broadband DevelopmentCorp.

A federal election held this past June, as well as a ministerial change, helped cause the delay, said Thomas.

More than 500 customers across the territory have already signed up early for the service.

While the official paperwork is not guaranteed to be completed until the end of March, Thomas said the NBDC has a tentative hold on a short-term financing arrangement to help ensure a January launch.

The details of that agreement may be released in the coming weeks.

In April, Industry Canada committed about $3.88 million to the project, some of which must be paid back. The money is for equipment needed in each of Nunavut's 25 communities.

Nearly every community now has the hardware installed.

Adamee Itorcheak will be signing up customers as Iqaluit's community service provider for NBDC.

The Nunanet owner says he has been lobbying the federal government between five and six years to bring broadband service to the territory.

"For us, we're just deciphering what the impacts are," Itorcheak said of the wait.

"But it's just another electronic paper cut. Eventually, after awhile, you develop a thick skin."