In Canada, federal and provincial funding amounting to more than $2.53 million (Canadian) was announced on Monday for two projects that will provide internet service to residents and businesses in rural areas of Ontario including King Township and surrounding subdivisions, as well as Huron County.
In King Township, the project will reportedly expand the fiber-optic broadband network to rural residents. In Huron County, it will provide high-speed broadband service to 929 homes, dozens of small businesses, and a school. The investments fall under the Small Communities Fund, which supports priority infrastructure projects in communities across Canada that have less than 100,000 residents.
According to a press release about the projects, the Government of Canada will invest $825,000 towards the King Township effort. The Government of Ontario will invest a matching $825,000 and Vianet will contribute the remainder of the project costs.
The Government of Canada will invest $444,115 toward the Huron Co-operatives Rural Broadband Improvement project. The Government of Ontario will invest a matching $444,115 and Comcentric Networking Inc. will contribute the remainder of the project costs.
Recently the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declared that “broadband access internet service is now considered a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians.” It also set new speed targets and created a fund that will invest up to $750 million (Canadian) over and above existing government programs. More about that is here.