Move to broadband progressing slowly

Though it’s called high-speed Internet, the speed in which the service is coming to Fort Frances is anything but fast.
For several years, the possibility of getting the service here has been teasing residents to the point of disbelief. Like the boy who cried “wolf,” many won’t believe it until they see it anymore.
There may be some light at the end of the tunnel, though. As first reported in last Thursday’s Daily Bulletin, the provincial government stepped up to the plate with its “Connect Ontario: Broadband Regional Access” (COBRA) program.
This three-year, $55-million initiative is designed to bring high-speed telecommunications to small communities in rural and Northern Ontario.
It aims to encourage public/private partnerships to lay the foundation for affordable, reliable broadband service for public-sector institutions as well as accessible infrastructure for homes and businesses.
COBRA will cover up to 50 percent of eligible infrastructure project costs of selected applications.
“We’re aiming for partnerships so the community bands together and gets it off the ground,” said Stephanie Pajevic, an information officer with the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation.
“Our goal is to get all of Ontario connected,” she stressed.
Eligible non-profit groups or municipalities must submit a business plan that addresses accessibility, provides a minimum of 1.5 mega-bytes per second transfer rate, and includes a sustainable business, revenue, and partnership model.
Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate long-term sustainability, provide the best regional coverage for the lowest cost, and require the least amount of provincial support.
COBRA will not accept proposals spearheaded by telecom service providers, but they can include partnerships with tourism organizations, Chambers of Commerce, First Nations, and others.
Proposals with high partnership contributions, including from federal initiatives, also will be given a higher priority.
That has some local groups smiling.
Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Non-Profit Advisory Services represents seven First Nations in the area. Last month, it received word from Industry Canada’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) initiative that it would get up to $30,000 to prepare a business plan studying the feasibility of bringing sustainable broadband service to the area.
Jim Leonard said they are in the process of finding a consultant to do the study, which is due in early May.
But even before the provincial program was announced, Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing was committed to building up regional partnerships.
“We had to send an initial letter of intent [to BRAND],” said Leonard. “In it, we indicated we were seeking expanded partnerships.
“We’ve talked to [Emo Reeve] Russ [Fortier] and Geoff Gillon [of the Rainy River Future Development Corp.] to set something up,” he added. “We want to sit down with Russ and Geoff to get their ideas.
“The more, the merrier.”
“We’ll meet as soon as we can,” echoed Gillon. “I’ll meet any time, any place.”
Gillon and Fortier were part of a municipal proposal for BRAND funding that was not accepted in the first round of applications.
Though they were disappointed to be turned down in the first round, they do plan to submit a more thorough proposal for the second round—and continue their efforts to bring broadband here, especially with the new provincial program in place.
“I’m excited about it,” Gillon said of COBRA. “I think it’s great.
“It’s a positive step,” he added. “It’s a sign the government is stepping up. But $55 million isn’t a lot of money for all of Northwestern Ontario.
“I guess it’s timely,” he remarked, referring to its proximity to the federal program announcement.
COBRA is the second phase of a “Connect Ontario” initiative to bring the public sector up to a level electronic platform across the province, said Garry McKinnon of Economic Development in Atikokan.
“It’s primarily an e-government initiative,” he noted.
McKinnon is involved in a regional “Connect Ontario” project at present to determine what’s existing and what is needed to upgrade public sector communications.
“We’re still in the initial stages,” he said. “The COBRA program would logically build on the ‘Connect Ontario’ program.”
“That bodes well for us,” said Gillon, optimistically.
The next step in bringing broadband and high-speed Internet to the region is solving some problems.
“There’s no doubt in everyone’s mind that it’s needed [here],” McKinnon said. “The interest of the average resident is affordable, accessible high-speed Internet.
“[But] we have to resolve a lot of connectivity issues and affordability issues,” he admitted, adding rural areas could be very difficult to accommodate in a cost-effective manner.