Arctic Bay (Mar 01/04) - The information super highway has now detoured around Arctic Bay.

The Internet service provider for the community, Check It Out, has cut its service which has had a huge affect on the hamlet.

Bill Harding, senior administrative officer for the hamlet, said it has had huge impact on the office alone.

"We've lost all of our government-to-government communication," he said. "Our economic development officer can't do research. We're basically shut down."

Harding said the community relies heavily on the Internet as a way to communicate because they are isolated. He pointed out a lot of people aren't able to keep in touch with family or friends in the south.

"The Internet is considered critical infrastructure," he said.

Harding said that losing the Internet service has added to the many problems the community is facing.

"First we had the mine close and now we lose our Internet," he said. "Arctic Bay has been pummelled again and again," he said.

The community does have the option of using other Internet service providers, but cost is a huge factor.

All the other connections are long distance for Arctic Bay. Harding said it would cost about 10 cents a minute to go with another company which adds up.

"If the hamlet set up five accounts, for our employees, it would cost us $45,000 a year. That's just for our Internet service," he said.

The hamlet is looking to try to resolve the problem, but Harding added nothing is concrete.

Calls by Nunavut News/North to Check It Out owner Tim Reid were not returned before press time.