MP Bryan Hayes: High-Speed Internet Coming to the Sault Area

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News Release

For Immediate Release

June 9, 2015

High-Speed Internet Coming to the Sault area

MP Bryan Hayes announces major investment that will bring high-speed Internet services to 2580 homes in the Sault area

Ottawa, ON – Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadians have better access to these and many other online services, Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and area, today announced that 2580 homes in his riding will get access to high-speed Internet services.

The Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to rural Canadians to connect an additional 280,000 households in rural and remote regions of the country to high-speed Internet at minimum speeds of five megabits per second (Mbps). Much of this will be completed by the time Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017.

Last summer, the Government completed the first step, inviting Canadians to provide feedback online to help better determine areas in need of high-speed Internet access. Once information was received from individual Canadians and governments across the country, Industry Canada invited Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to submit proposals for funding under Connecting Canadians to build wireless or wired infrastructure that will provide services to rural and remote communities in need.

Today, the Government is partnering with dozens of ISPs to build the necessary wireless or wired infrastructure across the country that will bring an additional 280,000 Canadian households high-speed Internet access. By Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, over 98 percent of Canadian households will be able to subscribe to new or improved high-speed Internet services, delivering on the Harper Government’s commitment to Canadians.

For Canadians who live in communities with slow or no Internet, access to high-speed services will lead to new economic opportunities and the creation of new jobs, products and services.

Quick facts

  • Connecting Canadians delivers on the Government of Canada’s commitment in Economic Action Plan 2014 to bring high-speed Internet access to an additional 280,000 Canadian households in rural and remote regions of the country.
  • Successful Internet service providers will be expected to provide services at speeds of at least 5 Mbps to rural Canadians that currently have slower or no Internet access.
  • The first projects are expected to be completed by the time Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
  • Industry Canada received over 300 applications to the Connecting Canadians program from Internet service providers across Canada.
  • Connecting Canadians is a key commitment under Digital Canada 150, the Government of Canada’s plan to help Canadians take full advantage of the opportunities of the digital age.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement marks the next important phase in our plan to bring the benefits of high-speed Internet to 280,000 Canadian households. Providing Canadians with access to high-speed Internet for learning, business opportunities and so much more is key to creating a more connected, digital Canada.”

– James Moore, Minister of Industry

“Today’s broadband infrastructure announcement is great news for the Sault area. The Harper Government understands the importance of high-speed Internet access for communities like ours. Connecting Canadians demonstrates the Government’s commitment to delivering for rural Canadians.”

– Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and area

Associated link

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For more information contact:

Michaela Whitley

Member’s Assistant| Office of Bryan Hayes, MP| T : 613.992.5648|C : 613.882.3865

Backgrounder

Connecting Canadians

For most Canadians, access to affordable and reliable broadband networks is an important part of everyday life; however, communities outside urban centres often face challenges in accessing Internet service levels comparable to those in cities due to factors such as remote location and challenging terrain.

In the 2013 Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to continue working to make high-speed broadband networks available for rural Canadians. Enhancing and extending access will create jobs, growth and prosperity for rural and northern Canadians by increasing their ability to participate in the digital economy. Additionally, small and medium-sized businesses will benefit by having increased access to information and markets.

To keep pace with the needs of Canadians in rural and northern communities, the Government stated, in Economic Action Plan 2014, that it would contribute $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband service to a minimum target speed of five megabits per second (Mbps) for an additional 280,000 Canadian households.

Timeline of Connecting Canadians

  • Summer 2014—Launch of Connecting Canadians

Canadians were invited to provide feedback to Industry Canada to help better determine areas in need of high-speed Internet service.

  • Fall 2014—Call for applications

Once areas in need of greater access to high-speed Internet were determined, Industry Canada issued a call for applications for Internet service providers (ISPs) to submit proposals under Connecting Canadians to build the needed wireless or wired infrastructure.

  • Spring & summer 2015—Select projects conditionally approved

Industry Canada received over 300 applications to the Connecting Canadians program from ISPs. Applications underwent a national competitive assessment process to identify projects that offer the greatest value for Canadians in terms of extending robust, affordable broadband service to Canadian households.

The first round of successful projects will be announced beginning in May 2015.

  • 2015—Construction begins

Once projects have received final approval, ISPs will begin construction on their wireless or wired infrastructure projects.

  • 2017 onwards—280,000 households connected to high-speed Internet

Once projects are completed, Canadians can subscribe to new or improved services from providers.

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1 Comment

  1. I thought that the Soo area already had this High Speed? So what’s new here? On another note, I do have a concern with our cell service if this is just a provincial matter, I do not know. The problem is that some time ago I thought that the cell phone providers were mandated to increase and enhance their system and make not only Ontario but all of Canada covered especially along the Northern 17 highway corridor. The present system is lacking coverage badly from Hayden to Wawa and beyond. With only a few sections where cell service works, and no gas available past Pancake (in the summer) one really takes a chance on this Trans Canada Highway! Point at hand is that I travel this highway quite a bit and a few years ago invested in a cell phone which I could and would use. Having said that, the only provider was the giant Bell. How bad can that be and maybe we would get better in time? Anyway as of Jan this year, Ma Bell decided that they would not put more money or towers along this dark corridor and so walked away giving up their rights. So where did that leave us poor souls that bought into their monopoly, purchased and signed into plans? Out of service is what! my Bell Cell only works here in town to Hayden and maybe around some spots in Wawa but not in between. Rogers has taken over the towers and only their phones now work here. So here I am again starting all over with an increase in fees etc. just to have back what I had before! And now this talk about High Speed which I do not understand??