Internet might get speed boost in rural areas

Internet might get speed boost in rural areas

News

By: Sandra Bolan

Bradford West Gwillimbury’s rural residents are one step closer to high speed Internet connectivity.

This week, council agreed to support and participate in Simcoe County’s application for funding from the Rural Connections Broadband Program, which is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

“The ability to connect at the same speed as more urban communities impacts on our economic development (and) human resource development,” Valerie Ryan, chief executive officer of Nottawasaga Futures, said.

Nottawasaga Futures, along with the municipalities of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Adjala-Tosorontio, Essa, Innisfil and New Tecumseth, comprise the South Simcoe Alliance, which has identified extending broadband services to the municipalities’ rural areas as a priority for 2008.

“The Internet is an important tool and high speed is a necessity for residents and businesses,” Ms Ryan said.

The Rural Connections Program is a four-year, $30 million program designed to bring broadband service to rural areas in Southern Ontario.

The program provides funding for up to one-third of the eligible approved project costs, up to a maximum of $1 million. Municipalities are responsible for securing the remaining two-thirds of the funding.

“In the first program, without exception, the private sector — local Internet service providers — provided the required two-thirds funding to extend broadband beyond their current service areas,” according to a report submitted to council by Bradford West Gwillimbury manager of economic development Michael Disano.

“Nottawasaga Futures and our municipal economic development committees have been working for a long time to get broadband to the area,” Ms Ryan said, noting there hasn’t been the population base in the past to support broadband. “Now we’ll all be able to work from home.”

Simcoe County plans to submit its application in time for the Sept. 18 deadline.

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