Ontario is moving to bring high-speed Internet to more residents and businesses in rural and Northern Ontario and is turning to public and private partnerships to make it happen.

The province is now accepting applications under its Building Broadband in Rural and Northern Ontario Program and will provide up to one-third of the cost of plans put forward by private companies, consortiums and not-for-profit organizations that can build and operate telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas.

Ontario is committing over $32 million to top up funding available from Industry Canada.

ORION's President and CEO Phil Baker says he welcomes the new broadband infrastructure investments. "Building this infrastructure is absolutely critical, not only for our economic development, but to ensure we are able to extend the reach of new and advanced networks and technologies to all regions of Ontario."

Earlier this summer, Ontario announced it was establishing a Broadband Infrastructure Fund to provide Ontario's rural and remote families and businesses with more opportunities to connect to the world through the Internet. The aim is to spur innovation, attract investment and build a skilled workforce. The infrastructure fund, totalling nearly $88 million, includes matching funds for the Government of Canada's new national program Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians.

It also announced its first investment from the fund, supporting the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Regional Broadband Network, with Ontario investing one-third of total eligible costs, up to $55 million in a project that will enhance capacity and speed for Eastern Ontario.

"In today's global economy, businesses need access to broadband to compete and prosper," says Government Services Minister, Harinder Takhar. The province's Economic Development and Trade Minister, Sandra Pupatello, clearly positions the funding as critical to Ontario's economic development and prosperity. "We have listened and are delivering crucial access to the broadband network in rural and Northern Ontario. Entrepreneurs will have the tools they need to take advantage of important business opportunities sooner to help them succeed," she said.

The investments are driven by the need to promote strategic investments in broadband infrastructure and encouraging Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to address basic broadband gaps in rural and northern areas of the province.

ORANO has recently worked with Ontario's Ministry of Government Services to help identify those gaps. "We need to make sure that we extend next-generation high-speed connectivity and capabilities to all regions of Ontario, especially the rural areas of eastern and northern Ontario," says Baker.

"We need to set high and achievable targets and take the lead over competing jurisdictions," he says. "We have the vision and expertise, we have industry and technology leadership, and we have the support and commitment of government to make this happen."

Program highlights:

The program is looking to support proposals that not only address rural and remote, hard-to-serve areas, but also establish a foundation for future enhanced capacity and growth,

The program will support proposals that provide broadband access for the general public and for public sector facilities such as libraries, community centres, and promote and foster improved access to e-government services, including e-health.

The government is also looking to support partnerships that help bring new economic development opportunities within the area, for business and residents with access and expanded use of e-learning opportunities and green technology.

Learn more at www.omafra.gov.on.ca.