The Ontario government says it will spend more than $2.3 million in seven broadband projects that will support rural and Indigenous communities in northern Ontario.
"This funding will connect northerners to reliable broadband infrastructure that will allow people to stay in touch with family and friends, access public services and work and run a business from anywhere," says a news release.
Broadband investments made through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) includes $232,500 for North Eastern Ontario Communications Network (NEOnet) Inc. to launch and administer its "Broadband for Remote Areas" program, which will provide grants to small- and medium-sized enterprises located in northern Ontario to assist with the purchase and installation of specialized equipment that will provide two-way, high-speed internet service
"Now more than ever, there is a need to improve broadband services in northern Ontario.," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Mines. "For too long, the north has lacked access to high-speed internet with limited connectivity in many remote communities. Broadband is a key driver for economic growth, innovation and job creation and keeps our northern communities connected to their families and businesses. "
Susan Church is Executive Director of Blue Sky Net, an organization that has a goal of resolving the ever-growing need for broadband so that it's a level playing field to grow northern communities.
"Anytime there is Broadband funding and attention paid to Northern Ontario, that is a good thing," Church told BayToday. "These projects are not part of the recently announced 150 Million Up To Speed funding, but were program elements from when NOHFC was funding Broadband.
"We are anxiously looking forward to seeing the actual funding application process open up for the "Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan" funding. That will be impacted as well when the Federal Universal Broadband Fund opens up. Blue Sky Net has three different shovel ready regional projects in the works and applications have already been submitted to the CRTC Broadband Fund while we await the other programs to open up."
Church says citizens have a great opportunity to help with those applications by going to the speed test. and submit a speed test of their internet speeds.
"Sometimes, these funding agencies don't always have it quite right when they think a community is already covered and don't allow it to be eligible for their program," she says.
"The digital divide has never been more relevant and to our dismay, Northern Ontario is on the lowest side of that divide. That point is very clear when you look at our report."
