Welcome...

The Peace Region Internet Society was formed in 1994 to provide affordable access to the Internet for individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Peace Region of Northern British Columbia. When you join PRIS, you become a member of a society with over 6,000 members. It is run by you through an elected Board of Directors . All revenue generated by PRIS is used to further the goals of the Society. Unlike many of the larger companies we have not forgotten that our community is primarily rural, and we are striving to ensure that broadband access is available to all. While competing technologies such as ADSL and Cable meet the needs of people within the larger urban centers, true Broadband Internet can only be delivered to rural residents via wireless radio.

Here is how our Society works: Once a year, usually in the autumn, PRIS holds an Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, one half of the directors stand for election for a two year term. An effort is made to ensure that all communities are adequately represented on the Board. The new board elects an executive for the coming year.

The board meets monthly to determine PRIS policies and direction. Meetings are open to the public, and members are invited to attend. Minutes of all meetings are posted to the membership after ratification.

The day to day operations of PRIS are managed by seven staff members.

PRIS is a member of the BC Community Connectivity Coop or BC3 for short.  The BC is a non-profit society representing the interests of the Internet industry in British Columbia.

By design, PRIS does not make a 'profit'. Those who have joined more recently may be surprised by this. Aren't Internet Service Providers usually business entities striving to cash in big on the burgeoning Information Technology explosion? Isn't this the world of Sympatico, AOL, ATT, Ma Bell and other giants?... Well, it wasn't always like that.  Read on for the history of PRiS .