Cellular Infrastructure Funding
Back in June, NOHFC announced the support of a pan-northern cellular infrastructure expansion. Click here for the press release. Towers in Blue Sky Net's service area are:
No Internet, no thanks, cottage buyers say
Rustic, off the grid summer cottages don’t have the romantic appeal they used to, as buyers increasingly demand more features, cottage experts say.
“For many of us a cottage was a place our grandparents owned in a structure primarily made of wood that the family opened on May 24 weekend and closed Thanksgiving,” said Cameron Mitchell, a Collingwood-based mortgage specialist at a panel hosted by the Bank of Montreal on Thursday. “Families are today buying recreational properties that are for the most part utilized for all four seasons.”
Full story appearing in the Toronto Star's "Moneyville" by Tony Wong
Multiple towers to bring high-speed, economic growth
ALMAGUIN – Bringing high-speed Internet at urban prices is the mandate of a not-for-profit development company, which plans to build 48 towers for the Nipissing and Parry Sound/Muskoka Districts.
According to Susan Church, general manager of Blue Sky Network, Broadband Canada conducted a nationwide survey in 2008 determining which areas were still without coverage.
High-speed Internet is needed for economic growth, says Church, and the people who live in these areas year-round are disadvantaged without broadband.
Click here for the full story in the June 23 issue of the Almaguin News. Story by Mary Beth Hartill
Council gives go-ahead for internet tower
KATRINE – Whether or not a 300-foot tower will be erected over Doe Lake in Katrine is now up to Industry Canada.
The controversial piece of the project that will bring affordable high-speed Internet to a large swath of Armour, Perry, Ryerson and McMurrich/Monteith townships garnered unanimous approval from Armour Township council at its regular meeting of June 14 that devoted more than an hour to the subject.
Click here for the full story in the June 23 issue of the Almaguin News. Story by Rob Learn
CBC News – Technology & Science – Net usage allowances slashed after CRTC ruling
CBC News - Technology & Science - Net usage allowances slashed after CRTC ruling
The amount of video or data that can be streamed or downloaded by some internet customers under their current price plans is being cut almost 90 per cent following a recent CRTC decision.
Starting March 1, customers who subscribe to five-megabits-per-second internet service with Tekksavvy will only be able to use 25 gigabytes per month in Ontario and 60 gigabytes per month in Quebec instead of 200 gigabytes per month, the company said in an email to customers over the weekend. If they exceed the new caps, they will have to pay hefty surcharges.
In addition, the company will no longer offer unlimited internet packages.
Extra billing for internet use a ‘ripoff’
CBC News
The CRTC's decision to allow internet service providers to charge their customers for downloading excessive amounts of data threatens "free and open access to the internet in Canada," the NDP said Thursday.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2011/01/20/consumer-internet-ndp.html#ixzz1Bgpeqz00
Public Safety Minister Toews Announces Ontario Projects to Receive Broadband Canada Funding
Thunder Bay, Ontario, July 9, 2010 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, today announced that three projects in Ontario have been conditionally approved for funding through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. These projects will bring broadband Internet access to an estimated 4 000 households in the province.
List of Projects (including Spectrum/Blue Sky project for Nipissing, Sudbury East and Parry Sound)
New wireless coverage areas!
Spectrum Telecom has just completed installation of radio equipment on the water tower in Callander and the installation of a new tower on Dokis First Nation.
The Callander site is a strategic addition to Spectrum’s network as it relieves traffic from other access points in the area as well as increasing coverage to unserved areas in and around Callander Bay.
High Speed Internet access in Dokis First Nation is a service well needed in the community. Coverage from the centrally located tower should provide access to many residents. Interested individuals should contact Spectrum directly, or their service partners Ontera and Vianet.
The Dokis Tower was made possible by the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor.