Counties 'nearly ready' to launch broadband expansion project

Despite last week's cancellation of a press conference to officially launch the long-awaited broadband Internet project, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell is moving ahead with plans to bring an expanded high-speed Internet service online for the region.

The press conference was scheduled to take place prior to the regular meeting of counties council on Tuesday, August 24. Counties CAO Stéphane Parisien explained the press conference had to be "pushed back to a later date" because there are still some details that need to be worked out.

However, those details didn't stop council from approving two bylaws related to the project at that same meeting. The bylaws will allow the counties to enter into an agreement with Bell Aliant and Barrett XPlore Inc. to provide broadband Internet services.

Council also approved a third bylaw to join as a municipal contributor with the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC) and its proposed $170-million project to develop high-speed Internet access for all of the Eastern Ontario region using wired, wireless and/satellite technology as feasible.

The EOWC has funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments for up to $110 million of the estimated cost.

The remainder will come from EOWC members and in-kind or cash contributions from private sector partners in the project.

"This is an absolutely essential service to bring to residents and businesses in the counties," said Warden and Casselman Mayor Conrad Lamadeleine. "We have been working on this for a long time."

Originally, the multi-million dollar project to bring broadband Internet to outlying rural areas at 1.5 megabits per second was expected to be completed by last Christmas.

The warden said broadband will give residents and businesses access to fast, up-to-date technology and will ensure the UCPR is competitive with other areas. He said people won't think twice about moving from the city to the counties because they'll know they will have access to the services they need.

"A lot of people work from home and they depend on the Internet," he said. "Right now, it's hard for people to access the information they need and it's hard to businesses to remain competitive. Once this service is available, UCPR will shoot forward into the 21st century."