HELPING RURAL ONTARIO CONNECT
McGuinty Government Invests in High-Speed
Internet for Rural Southern Ontario
June 26, 2008
NEWS
More residents and businesses in rural southern Ontario
will soon be in the fast lane with access to high-speed Internet services
in their communities.
The province is investing $30 million over the next four
years to expand high-speed access to under-serviced communities in rural
southern Ontario.
The government is teaming up with municipalities and the
private sector to continue closing access gaps in under-serviced areas
in rural southern Ontario. High-speed Internet access in rural areas
will help stimulate job growth and economic development.
The government is now accepting applications for the Rural
Connections Broadband Program. For more information and application
documents, interested municipalities can visit www.ontario.ca/rural
or call 1-888-588-4111.
QUOTE
"In today's economy, high-speed is essential for success and
growth. This program is an investment in the future prosperity of
Rural Ontario and the McGuinty government is eager to help make that
prosperity a reality," said Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Minister Leona
Dombrowsky.
"In a global marketplace, new approaches and ways of thinking
are needed to grow a prosperous Ontario. The Rural Connections Program
works to meet our goal of strengthening digital infrastructure capacity
and building the digital skills and literacy Ontarians need to succeed
in this new economy,"said Government and Consumer Services Minister
Ted
McMeekin.
"This investment will give small and medium-sized businesses
the ability to grow and compete in markets around the world,"
said Small Business and Entrepreneurship Minister Harinder
Takhar. "It will provide opportunities to participate in
the knowledge economy, and foster entrepreneurship and innovation
in rural areas."
QUICK FACTS
- In 2007, 18 municipalities received funding under Rural Connections.
The investment aimed to bring high-speed Internet access to 200,000
citizens in rural southern Ontario.
LEARN MORE
Discover more about Rural
Connections and how it can benefit your community.
Learn more about how Ontario is fostering E-Business
and E-Learning.
Backgrounder
RURAL CONNECTIONS BROADBAND PROGRAM
Rural Connections Broadband Program (Rural Connections) is a four year
program designed to reduce broadband infrastructure gaps in rural southern
Ontario.
Broadband, also known as high-speed Internet, combines
telecommunications infrastructure and service, allowing end-users to
use the Internet at speeds far greater than traditional dial-up service
allows.
The Rural Connections Program is part of the government's
Digital Strategy for Ontario. Ontario's Digital Strategy outlines a
plan for coordinating relevant government investments and for building
partnerships between governments, the information and communications
technology companies, Internet service providers, content creators,
citizens and researchers to ensure Ontario can lead in the digital economy.
Strategic investments in broadband infrastructure will continue to help
rural communities foster partnerships and pursue innovative approaches
to promote social and economic development, and improve access to government
programs and services.
Rural municipalities in southern Ontario that meet the
eligibility requirements can apply for provincial funding individually
- or jointly with other municipalities through one lead applicant -
for up to one third of eligible approved project costs to a maximum
of $1 million per application. Municipalities are responsible for securing
the remaining project costs. The program requires municipalities to
demonstrate they are working in partnership with community stakeholders
and other partners to develop and implement a plan designed to improve
broadband accessibility in rural areas.
Selected projects must also include a plan for long-term
sustainability that addresses such components as uptake and utilization
of the new infrastructure by residents, businesses and the community
at large.
Objectives and Priorities
-
Reduce broadband infrastructure gaps in rural southern
Ontario.
-
Enable small and medium size enterprises in rural
southern Ontario to fully participate in the digital economy.
-
Improve public access to government services and information.
-
Support businesses and citizens to effectively utilize
broadband for economic and social development.
Benefits
-
Help make Ontario more productive, innovative, and
competitive in the digital economy.
-
Enable a diversified economy in rural communities
that fosters entrepreneurship and enables the growth of small and
medium enterprises.
-
Enhance the quality of life of people in rural areas
of southern Ontario through improved access to multi-level government
information and services, education and skills training, health care,
and community and global information resources.
Key Dates:
For more information contact:
Kelly Synnott, Minister's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342
|
This site is maintained
by the Government of Ontario 
Queen's Printer for Ontario
