The Ontario government says it is committing up to $63.7 million to expand broadband internet throughout Wellington County and other rural communities in southwestern Ontario.
Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton made the announcement in Palmerston on Thursday.
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“I’ve heard too many stories about parents sitting in fast-food restaurants or going to the local library to get Wi-Fi for their kids’ homework,” he said.
“We want rural residents and businesses to be able to stream high-speed internet from their homes, farms and businesses.”
About $12.1 million is expected to be spent in Wellington County, while another $8.3 million will be spent in Norfolk County.
The project will be headed up by a not-for-profit corporation known as Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) that was initiated by municipalities to address connectivity issues in the area.
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“Today’s announcement is part of a phased approach to the future roll-out of SWIFT’s larger deployment plans,” SWIFT Board Chair David Mayberry said.
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The entire project in southwestern Ontario is expected to cost more than $190 million with the federal government and municipalities also providing funding.