OTTAWA — The federal government announced today it is investing more than $9.5 million through the Universal Broadband Fund’s (UBF) rapid response stream for 11 projects that will bring high-speed Internet to 17 rural and Indigenous communities in Ontario.
These projects will connect a total of 6,124 underserved households, with almost half (2,953 homes) in Indigenous communities.
Of the 11 projects, 10 are led by Indigenous applicants. One of the applicants, Indigenous-owned and -operated ISP Kuhkenah Network (K-Net), has been awarded funding for three of the projects.
According to a backgrounder, the UBF funding for these projects has been allocated as follows:
- $538,771 for the Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council to connect 515 households, of which 382 are Indigenous, in the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, the Big Grassy River First Nation, the Northwest Angle #33 First Nation, Sioux Narrows and the Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation
- $238,072 for the Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (Grassy Narrows First Nation) to connect 223 Indigenous households
- $14,241 for the Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation to connect 13 households, of which 12 are Indigenous
- $1,969,330 for the Chippewas of Georgina Island to connect 295 households, of which 294 are Indigenous, on Georgina Island
- $159,349 for the Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation to connect 158 Indigenous households in Kejick Bay
- $4,981,320 for the Kenora District Services Board to connect 4,200 households, of which 1,166 are Indigenous, in the rural areas near Kenora
- $365,000 for K-Net to connect 24 households, of which 22 are Indigenous, in the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen
- $322,400 for K-Net to connect 140 Indigenous households in the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation
- $309,888 for K-Net to connect six Indigenous households in the North Spirit Lake First Nation
- $435,679 for the Pikangikum First Nation to connect 405 Indigenous households in Pikangikum
- $207,781 for the Pic River Development Corporation to connect 145 Indigenous households in Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation)
One of the requirements of receiving funding through the UBF’s rapid response stream is to complete the projects by the end of the year.
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