High-Speed Internet Coming To Laurentian Hills

The Town of Laurentian Hills is among 15 successful municipalities moving forward with plans to build local broadband infrastructure thanks to a partnership with the Ontario government.

The Rural Connections Broadband Program provides funding to help rural municipalities build high-speed Internet projects in their communities. The program's goal is to bring broadband access to rural and remote areas currently under-serviced in southern Ontario.

The province will provide funding for one-third of the approved eligible costs of the project. The Town of Laurentian Hills' project is eligible for $102,000.

Broadband combines telecommunications infrastructure and service to deliver more Internet information at speeds far greater than dial-up service.

QUOTES

"This announcement will give our businesses, students and teachers, healthcare professionals and citizens the hi-tech tools they need to succeed and do business," said Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "I am delighted that the Town of Laurentian Hills brought forward a successful proposal which shows their commitment to community broadband expansion and to providing their citizens with the best technology possible."

"On behalf of the Town of Laurentian Hills, I would like to thank all the stakeholders who played such an important role in securing this broadband funding," said Mayor Vance Gutzman. "As a rural municipality, the Town of Laurentian Hills recognizes how important broadband technology is to our businesses and residents. Our municipality looks forward to seeing this project through to a successful conclusion."

QUICK FACTS

• Today's announcement of 15 new broadband projects amounts to a provincial commitment of $8.8 million. In the next four years, the Ontario government will invest up to $30 million in rural partnerships that will build rural Ontario's broadband infrastructure.
• In 2007, 18 projects marked the first wave of broadband infrastructure undertaken jointly by rural municipalities and the province. Thanks to the province's strategy, today's announcement brings the total to 33 projects.
  

LEARN MORE

About the Rural Connections Broadband Program

For more information, contact:

Sherry Persaud, Minister Dombrowsky's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342