What is the value of the project?
The overall project has been approved on June 19, 2009 by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to a maximum of $2,430,912. The Bell portion of the project is $666,500 and the Xplornet portion is $1,578,912 with the remainder of the funding coming from the United Counties. The Province is contributing up to a maximum of $810,304, which is one third of the project cost.
Will provincial funding be sufficient to fill all the broadband gaps in Ontario?
No. The current efforts won't fill every gap but progress has been steady. The Rural Connections Broadband Program has invested $31.4 million in 55 rural broadband projects since June, 2007. The telecom sector responded to this investment in rural broadband and commonly took on 2/3 of the cost of each municipal project.
Already, ¼ million rural residents and businesses have access to broadband service thanks to early projects assisted by Rural Connections. This number will grow to 600,000 as Rural Connections projects currently under construction come online by March 31, 2012.
Beyond this program a jointly federal and provincial funded Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) initiative is underway to continue to address the broadband needs of the area’s residents and businesses.
What is the difference between Xplornet Communications Inc. and the Xplornet dealers?
Xplornet Communications Inc, owns and operates a high speed fixed wirelss network. The Xplornet dealers are Xplornet licensed and trained independent businesses that provide local installation and service.
How can I obtain more information about the project?
Ongoing project updates will be available on the United Counties’ website, through media releases and at public information sessions. http://www.prescott-russell.on.ca/
