I am pleased to confirm a Federal Government contribution of $172,471 from the rural component of the Connecting Canadians Program to deliver fixed wireless access to deliver affordable broadband internet service to Renfrew County.
Residents in the Municipalities of Bonnechere Valley, Admaston/Bromley, North Algona Wilberforce and Greater Madawaska are targeted to benefit from this program.
The total cost of this project, including a matching applicant contribution of $172,471 and $180,000 from the Business Development Bank of Canada, is $497,794.
My congratulations to Ian and Lynda Fraser, long-time Ottawa Valley McNab/Braeside residents, for the successful project application on behalf of their local company goZoom.
There is a significant upfront cost of infrastructure.
The low population density in rural and remote areas mean that, on their own, Internet service providers (ISPs) cannot generate a return on investment for extending service into many places like rural Renfrew County and Nipissing District.
The Federal Government received over 300 applications to the Connecting Canadians program from Internet service providers from across Canada.
I made sure that when the Connecting Canadians Program was launched in 2014, any Renfrew County applications would be reviewed on a priority basis.
I am hopeful the change in Ottawa will recognize the challenge in rural Canada to provide reliable, high-speed broadband internet and continue this program started by the previous government.
goZoom.ca has been providing fast, reliable, affordable high-speed Internet service to our customers for over 10 years.
This funding will help us extend our service into areas that do not yet have access to 5 Mbps broadband, creating potential economic development in those areas while also increasing residents’ quality of life and enabling businesses to compete more effectively.
The Internet is a tool that spurs economic growth, broadens business opportunities and connects Canadian communities, friends and family from coast to coast to coast.
goZoom.ca is receiving up to $172,000 from the Government of Canada to increase broadband Internet access in communities in eastern Ontario and help keep Canada at the leading edge of the digital economy.
For Canadians who live in communities with slow or no Internet, access to high-speed services will lead to new economic opportunities and the creation of new jobs, products and services.
Through the Government’s Connecting Canadians program, approximately 1,000 households in Renfrew County will have access to broadband at speeds of 5 megabits per second (Mbps).
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2016.