Rural Affairs Council To Recommend XplorNet

I've received word that the City's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is planning to recommend XplorNet (a.k.a. Barrett Xplore Inc.) as "preferred partner in a Public-Private Partnership (P3) to complete broadband coverage in rural Ottawa" at the upcoming March 22 meeting.

The agenda also reportedly states that the Committee will further recommend that Council "authorize the Deputy City Manager of Planning, Transit, and the Environment, to finalize negotiations and conclude and execute all necessary agreements with Barrett Xplore Inc. for the design, construction, financing and operation of the required broadband infrastructure and service delivery in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposals (RFP), the proposal submitted, the subsequent negotiations between the parties, and the framework set out in this report."

As well, I just checked XplorNet's website for the first time in several months and found that they are now providing high-speed fixed wireless Internet access (in addition to two-way satellite service) in the Kars area (i.e. K0A 2E0). Interested parties may want to check XplorNet's website to see if their own postal neighbourhoods are covered, or contact XplorNet directly.