Rural Internet Projects Get Green Light

McGuinty Government Building Digital Highway

A third wave of high-speed Internet projects will ensure the digital highway runs through more rural Ontario communities. 

In total, the province will provide $10.1 million to assist 14 municipalities as they proceed with high-speed Internet projects, as part of the Rural Connections Broadband Program.  The province has committed over $27.4 million to 47 projects since 2007 to stimulate the building of broadband infrastructure in rural Ontario.  The goal of the program is to help bring broadband Internet access to rural and remote areas currently underserved in southern Ontario.

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

QUOTES

“We are turning miles into milliseconds with today’s announcement of 14 new rural broadband projects.  Internet infrastructure is a bridge that connects rural families and businesses with opportunities in business, education, health and community enrichment.”
- Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“High-speed Internet is vital to opening up a world of growth opportunities for existing and new businesses in rural Ontario. It’s exciting that entrepreneurs will be able to explore and engage in e-commerce opportunities that have not been possible before.”
- Harinder Takhar, Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services
 
“Broadband is a digital highway and today’s announcement puts rural Ontario on that fast track.”
- Ted McMeekin, Government Services Minister

QUICK FACTS

• In 2007, eighteen projects marked the first wave of broadband infrastructure undertaken jointly by rural municipalities and the province.  They are now fully operational.  In 2008, another 15 rural broadband projects were approved.

• Broadband is defined as a high-capacity link between end users and access network suppliers at a minimum download speed of 1.5 megabits per second.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about the Rural Connections Broadband Program.

For more information, contact:

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

For more information about the broadband project in your community, please contact your local municipality.