High-Speed Internet Coming To Middlesex County

The County of Middlesex 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 Middlesex project is eligible for $1 million.

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

QUOTES

"This announcement will put a hi-tech tool in the eager hands of businesses, students and teachers, farmers and residents in our more rural areas of Middlesex County," said Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. "I am so glad the County of Middlesex brought forward a successful proposal which showed their commitment for this project."

"The approval of the County of Middlesex application for broadband funding by the Province of Ontario is welcome news indeed. It will provide services to many areas of Middlesex which are without high speed Internet at this time," said Albert Bannister, Middlesex County Warden. "This will also help the economic development of the county as a whole. The County of Middlesex thanks the Province of Ontario for recognizing the importance of the project and the benefit it will provide to the area."

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.
• Middlesex County collaborated with the Municipalities of Adelaide Metcalf, Middlesex Centre, Southwest Middlesex, Thames Centre, Lucan Biddulph, North Middlesex, Strathroy-Caradoc and Newbury on this project.
• 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