Through the Rural Connections Broadband program, the Ontario government is set to offer nearly $300,000 to expand South Glengarry's Internet access, increasing the area's high-speed coverage to 98 from 63 per cent. South Dundas and South Stormont are eligible for $77,677.
The three local areas are among 15 Ontario municipalities expected to receive funding through the broadband program.
"It's the biggest complaint I've received since I've been in politics," said South Glengarry Mayor Jim McDonell about the lack of high-speed access.
Areas without high-speed Internet, McDonell added, set themselves up to be on a "lower economic tier." It affects everything from a child's education, he said, to the ability of someone to run their business.
According to Joanne Haley, manager of community services for South Glengarry Township, there will be approximately 13 to 16 towers erected for the coverage expansion in her area.
"It will be a wireless solution," she explained.
Broadband Internet delivers much faster online performance than the dial-up Internet currently available in many rural areas.
Haley expects to have the upgrade completed by summer of 2009.
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim Brownell was in Lancaster Friday for the announcement. Ironically, it was only one of two times he's ever forgotten his Blackberry, he explained. He said he felt disconnected, having temporarily lost his own connection to e-mail and the Internet. Brownell said he had to sit on the funding news for all of last week, which proved difficult when he actually heard constituents complaining about connectivity issues.
"I was just itching," Brownell said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): David Nesseth
Quelle/Source: Standard Freeholder, 29.11.2008
