Government of Canada announced the second round of projects in Ontario to receive funding approval through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program, which will deliver important economic and social benefits, including telehealth, business opportunities and distance learning.
The following companies will receive the funding and are responsible for this wave of implementation: Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc., Spectrum Telecom Group Ltd., Blue Sky Economic Growth Corp., TBay Tel and Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre.
The projects conditionally approved in this round will offer broadband Internet access to approximately 4,000 households in Ontario. Collectively, this reflects a total investment of $5.5 million in this province.
"These investments will significantly enhance the quality of life for thousands of residents and open the door to new businesses and public services," said Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
"I look forward to announcing more specific details of our funding partnership in the near future."
Canada's Economic Action Plan provided $225 million for the development and implementation of a strategy to extend broadband coverage. By far the biggest component of this strategy is Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians, an initiative that targets Canadians living in unserved and underserved areas.
"This government's commitment to bringing broadband internet to rural Canadians will mean new opportunities for Northern Ontario, including citizens of Thunder Bay. Today I am pleased to announce that three projects in Northern Ontario will be among those receiving federal support," said Honourable Vic Toews, Canada's Public Safety Minister.
"These latest projects, together with those announced in May, mean that these households will soon be online at modern, multimedia-capable speeds."
For the individuals, families and businesses in Ontario, broadband Internet access will encourage economic development, spur innovation and improve the quality of life in hundreds of communities across the province.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Rachel Smith
Quelle/Source: Business Review Canada, 09.07.2010
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
