Essa decides against high speed internet program
by Richard Blanchard

Essa council has decided not to apply to a federal government program which

would have extended high speed internet to much of the township.

Council decided last week that the Ontario Municipal Rural Broadband Program had left the municipality with too short time frame to allow the township to submit an application.

"We really would need to have a township employee working full time for the next three weeks in order for us to submit an application," said township clerk Carole Trainor.

Trainor had attended an information session on the program last Tuesday and was told that all applications had to be submitted by July 13.

The Ontario Municipal Rural Broadband Partnership Program is designed to reduce broadband gaps in rural Ontario and would see rural municipalities work with other municipalities and telecommunication companies on improving internet service.

Trainor said that the township would have to establish a partnership with an internet service provider and draft a proposal for extended service.

"It is a good program but it certainly doesn't leave us much time," said mayor Dave Guergis. He noted that township residents do have access to over the air high speed internet services at the present time though they are much more costly than regular broadband.

Council voted to receive the report on the proposal.