Governments provide internet funding

PERTH-WELLINGTON – The Government of Ontario, partnering with the federal government, has announced up to $19,668,735 to bring high-speed internet to up to 2,700 households and businesses in underserved areas throughout Perth-Wellington and surrounding areas.

Funding will come from the province’s Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program and the federal Universal Broadband Fund.

It is part of $1.2 billion in spending on 58 new projects across Ontario. This will bring high-speed internet to over 280,000 homes and businesses in Ontario.

“Many people I represent still lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet,” Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece stated.

“The pandemic has certainly highlighted the need to fix this, but as we know, it has been a problem for many years.This has long been a major priority for me. Our local municipalities have also been pressing the provincial and federal governments to do more. I congratulate them on their hard-work, which is paying off.”

Communities that will receive funding include Shakespeare, Newton, Gads Hill, Hesson, Millbank, Poole, Amulree, Rostock, Milverton, Dorking, St. Pauls Station, Rannoch, Wellburn, Mitchell, Brodhagen, Fullarton, Staffa, Dublin, among others.

In its 2021 budget, the province committed to spending nearly $4 billion to connect every region to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.