City of Ottawa Report: Completing Broadband Coverage In Rural Ottawa

Here's the City of Ottawa staff report went before Council on Wednesday, September 27. It was previously endorsed already by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Corporate Services Committee:

http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2006/09-27/csedc/ACS2006-PGM-ECO-0018.htm

I have not yet had a chance to read the full report, but the proposed maps look promising. Also, it is my understanding, based on subsequent media releases and articles, that the $1 million budget was approved, so I guess the whole project was also approved.

ITBusiness.ca: Ottawa earmarks $1 million for high-speed Internet rollout

Here's a link to an article from ITBusiness.ca which deals with a City of Ottawa project to ensure all of rural Ottawa has high-speed access by fall 2007.

http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=40773

Media Release: City Delivers Broadband to Every Rural Address

Hmmm, it must be an election year. Still, this is a great sign for rural Internet in Ottawa.

For immediate release:

September 28, 2006

City Delivers Broadband to Every Rural Address

Ottawa - City Council has approved a $1-million funding contribution to speed up the delivery of broadband access to all parts of rural Ottawa. The City will move forward with a private-public partnership (P3) to develop the broadband infrastructure needed to reach every rural home, farm and business by fall 2007.

"As Mayor of Canada’s farming capital, I’m proud that we will soon be delivering high-speed Internet service to every rural door and community in Ottawa," said Mayor Bob Chiarelli. "This is important for farmers, small businesses and families in all our rural communities."

In addition, broadband has proven economic benefits for farms and businesses, allowing them to make better marketing decisions, access on-line production records and do research before making new purchases.

"Expanding broadband to every rural address was a key priority identified at last fall’s Rural Summit," said West Carleton Councillor Eli El-Chantiry. "With full access to broadband rural residents will benefit from on-line learning, distance medicine, tele-commuting and much more."

Before 2003, broadband was only available to about 2 per cent of rural residents and businesses in the Ottawa area. Great progress has been made as a result of grass-roots community efforts sponsored by the Ottawa Rural Communities Network (ORCnet), an organization supported by the City and devoted to expanding broadband service in rural areas.

To date, about 60 per cent of rural Ottawa has access to broadband Internet service. This includes most of the villages and communities where service providers could more easily provide the necessary infrastructure. With further investment through an innovative P3 approach the necessary delivery programs and communications towers can be put in place to fill all the gaps currently not serviced. The project is expected to cost up to $3 million, with the City contributing up to $1 million and the private sector partner contributing the remaining capital investment.

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