For Immediate Release
June 19, 2009
MILES ARE BEING REDUCED TO MILLISECONDS IN
WELLINGTON COUNTY
Alma -Working together, Wellington County and the Province of Ontario are bringing high-speed Internet to rural residents and businesses. The County is one of 14 Ontario municipalities moving forward with plans to build local broadband infrastructure in partnership with the provincial government.
“Since 2007, Ontario has been filling in the gap of rural broadband coverage,” said John Wilkinson, MPP for Perth Wellington. “I am delighted that Wellington County is now part of this strategic investment. Broadband Internet connects rural families and businesses with opportunities in commerce, health, education and community enrichment, both locally and around the world.”
“This is a giant leap forward for the people of Wellington County,” said Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj. “We have worked diligently to come up with an infrastructure strategy that will provide broadband connectivity to most of our residents and advance our county. We are delighted to partner with the province on this important initiative.”
One-third of the approved eligible costs of the Wellington project will be funded by the Ontario government. The Wellington County project is eligible for $1 million through the Rural Connections Broadband Program.
The county plans to partner with an Internet Service Provider to undertake the infrastructure build and contribute to the project.
The province’s Rural Connections Broadband Program helps rural municipalities build high-speed Internet projects in their communities. The program’s goal is to bring broadband access to rural and remote areas currently under-serviced in southern Ontario.
Today’s announcement of 14 new, rural broadband projects brings the total to 47 in less than two years.
Wellington County collaborated on this proposal with the Townships of Centre Wellington, Guelph/Eramosa, Mapleton, Puslinch and Wellington North and the towns of Minto and Erin.
Broadband connectivity delivers more Internet information at speeds far greater than dial-up service.
In the fall of 2007, 18 projects marked the first wave of broadband infrastructure projects undertaken jointly by rural municipalities and the province. In November 2008, 15 new projects were launched. Thanks to the province’s Rural Connections Broadband Program, today’s announcement brings the total to 47 projects.
“Working together, we make things better,” stated Wilkinson.
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For additional information, contact:
Cathy Winhold
Special Assistant
519-272-0660
LEARN MORE
About the Rural Connections Broadband Program
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/ruralconnections/broadband.htm
For information about the Wellington project:
Dan Halk, Manager, Technology Services, County of Wellington, 519-837-2600, ext. 2990.
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