TORONTO — The Ontario government announced today it is providing up to $14.7 million in funding for 13 new projects under its Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program, which was launched last year.
Collectively, these projects will help deliver high-speed Internet connectivity to more than 17,000 homes and businesses in 42 communities across the province, says a press release.
“Ontario’s ICON investment will help expand high-speed internet to more areas, from Belleville to Bancroft, Muskoka Lakes to Puslinch, and Sioux Narrows–Nestor Falls to Moose Cree First Nation. Ontario is partnering financially on these projects with various organizations who applied for provincial funding under the ICON program,” reads the release.
The Ontario government says these new projects “will help Ontario move forward in its plan to achieve 100 per cent connectivity after committing nearly $4 billion to ensure all Ontarians have access to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.”
The ICON program was first launched in June 2020 with an initial Ontario government funding commitment of $150 million, which was later doubled to $300 million in November.
Cartt.ca is under the impression the Ontario government’s recently announced $4-billion funding commitment encompasses the ICON program as well as the province’s earlier broadband and cellular action plan, announced in July 2019.
For a list of the communities to benefit from the ICON funding announced today, please click here.
In a separate press release, Cogeco Connexion announced today it will be a participating internet service provider in the ICON program. The company has plans to connect 3,595 homes and businesses in Hastings County to high-speed Internet, through an $8.8 million joint investment with the government of Ontario. The communities covered by the project include the City of Belleville, the Township of Stirling-Rawdon, the Municipality of Centre Hastings, and the Municipality of Tweed. The Ontario government’s backgrounder says up to $2.2 million in funding is being provided to connect up to 2,868 homes and businesses in those communities.
