BRACEBRIDGE, Ont. – One day after the CRTC wrapped up its hearing into the potential for more obligations, money and higher speeds for rural broadband (among other items), Industry Canada announced 21 new projects to be funded through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program.
These 21 latest projects will cost $29.1 million and soon connect 30,184 households in four provinces and one territory to broadband Internet networks, announced Industry Minister Tony Clement, who spoke at the Muskoka Bean Cafe in Bracebridge on Saturday morning.
This announcement brings total spending so far from the $225 million Broadband Canada fund to $152 million.
Seven of the 21 projects conditionally approved for funding will be in Ontario, potentially bringing broadband to 9,614 households in the province.
"I am delighted to announce that more families, businesses and individuals in Ontario will soon have access to high-speed internet for the first time," said Minister Clement of the Ontario projects. "Our government is committed to creating new economic opportunities for northern and rural Canadians by expanding broadband internet service into their communities."
A total of 16 companies will receive funding from this round. They are:
• Barrett Xplore
• Bell Aliant
• Broadband Communications North
• Chatham Internet Access
• Chippawa of the Saugeen First Nation, known as Saugeen First Nation
• Communication-Témiscamingue
• CORE Broadband
• Davinci Broadband
• Douglas First Nation (Xa’xtsa) Band
• Huron Telecommunications Co-operative
• Manitoba NetSet
• Northwestel
• Norway House Cree Nation Broadband
• TGV Net Mauricie
• True 802 Wireless
• UNI Connexions Abitibi
This latest round of conditionally approved funding builds on earlier project announcements, on May 9th, and July 6-15, 2010. Together, these three rounds of announcements will make broadband connectivity available to nearly 250,000 Canadian households.
