Jam21.net owner Dave Ashworth claims to be a step closer to providing high-speed Internet access that’s been so elusive to eager local residents and businesses.
Ashworth, who currently is negotiating a lease with the town to place antennae on the municipal water tower, hopes to be able to relay micro-wave Internet transmissions to customers at speeds similar to those provided with DSL.
“What we’re going to do is we’re planning on offering broadband Internet through wireless,” said Ashworth. “We’re looking at 300-400K connections.”
Ashworth already has high-speed access at his office through a U.S. telecommunications system, which he hopes to relay from his office to his customers via the tower antennae.
“The only hindrance might be the cost–bandwidth costs and equipment costs,” noted Ashworth, who said he’s still studying the feasibility of the project.
During the committee of the whole meeting of council here Monday, it was agreed to give Jam21.net a free 90-day trial period with antennae on the water tower after Ashworth and Operations and Facilities manager Pat Hickerson work out a financial agreement on the cost of leasing a spot.
“I suggest that the quickest way would be if you and Mr. Hickerson sit down and negotiate this,” Coun. Deane Cunningham said Monday.
“I’m sure we can figure out a beneficial agreement for Jam21 and the town,” replied Ashworth.
If an agreement can be reached, Ashworth hopes to have the service available this summer. “We’re shooting for June 1 right now,” he said.
But there may be some holdup as, during discussions with councillors, Ashworth voiced concern he was being charged while another group, the local ham radio club, has free access to the tower.
Council indicated the club may continue to have free access because it is a community service club.
“That’s going to be a sore point with me, providing a community service compared with providing an economic benefit. If you’re going to set a policy, where are you going to draw the line?” Ashworth asked.
Meanwhile, to address concerns from residents about a lack of high-speed access in the wake of last month’s upgrade by Bell Canada here, Mayor Glen Witherspoon indicated he would invite Bell’s regional director, Caren Naismith, to attend a council meeting sometime in early May.
“She’s coming to [the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association meeting] and I’ll ask her if she’ll arrange to come earlier and we’d have an open forum in the town hall in an open meeting and arm herself with technicians.” said the mayor.
“We have the bandwidth, we have the fibre optics, we just don’t have the speed,” he added. “We want a solution before we leave that meeting. We don’t want to say maybe, we want a solution.”
Although a date has not been confirmed, Naismith said she would attend the meeting to field questions.
“It would be to explain what the upgrade provided and perhaps to clarify any of the misunderstandings that high-speed Internet would also be provided with the upgrade and give them the opportunity to ask questions,” she said.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
