Web surfers in South Glengarry can finally hit the internet in style.
The township has announced the completion of its Rural Connections Broadband Program, which will increase access to broadband internet service through a fixed wireless network to the rural areas of the municipality.
Prior to completing this project, just 60 per cent of South Glengarry was served with high-speed internet access. That number has since jumped to 96 per cent.
"It's really a good news story for all of us in eastern Ontario," said SD and G Warden Ian MacLeod.
He added a project has been undertaken by the Eastern Ontario Warden's Caucus to have high-speed internet access for most if not all rural comunities from the Quebec border west to the Peterborough area.
SD and G is expected to go live with its access by the end of next year. As many as 85 per cent of the households will have access to internet speeds of 10 megabytes per second.
Taxpayers in SD and G have funded about $850,000 of the $150-million project, with the balance coming from federal and provincial governments, neighbouring municipalities and the private sector.
For the time being in South Glengarry, high speed internet service is now available to approximately 5,200 additional residents and 80 businesses throughout the township.
The province approved funding up to $299,798 or the equivalent of one third of the estimated $899,393 project cost and Bell Aliant covered the remaining two thirds of the project.
In addition to building broadband infrastructure, this project has provided outreach, including internet training to small business operators and residents. Three Wireless Hot Spots have been created at the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown, Martintown Community Centre, and Smithfield Park in Lancaster to provide unobstructed, free access to residents and tourists alike.
