High-Speed Internet Coming To Hastings County

McGuinty Government Partners On Local Infrastructure Project

Ontario is helping Hastings County bring high-speed Internet to residents and businesses.

The county is one of 14 Ontario municipalities moving forward with plans to build local broadband infrastructure in partnership with the provincial government. The province is providing Hastings County with $452,000 for this project, through the Rural Connections Broadband Program.

The county plans to partner with an Internet Service Provider to build the infrastructure and contribute to the project.

The province's Rural Connections Broadband Program helps 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 underserved in southern Ontario.

QUOTES

"Since 2007, we have been filling in the broadband gaps in rural Ontario and turning miles into milliseconds.  I am delighted that Hastings County is part of this strategic move. Broadband Internet connects rural families and businesses with opportunities in commerce, health, education and community enrichment."
- Leona Dombrowsky, MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"This is a giant leap forward for the people of Hastings County. We continue to work diligently on an infrastructure strategy that will provide broadband connectivity to most of our residents, businesses and institutions in order to advance our county. This project is an important step forward for us."
- Warden Ron Edmond

QUICK FACTS

• Today's announcement of 14 new, rural broadband projects brings the total to 47 in less than two years.
• Hastings County collaborated on this proposal with Centre Hastings, the Municipality of Tweed, and the Townships of Stirling-Rawdon and Tyendinaga.
• Broadband connectivity delivers more Internet information at speeds far greater than dial-up service.
• In the fall of 2007, 18 projects marked the first wave of broadband infrastructure projects undertaken jointly by rural municipalities and the province. In November 2008, 15 new projects were launched.

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 information about the Hastings project:
Jim Pine, CAO, County of Hastings, 613-966-1319