May 10, 2010

Tony Clement, minister of industry, announced the first series of projects to receive conditional funding approval under the “Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians” program. These 52 projects, in nine provinces and territories across Canada, will bring broadband internet access to an estimated 169,000 households.

These projects—which collectively will receive a federal contribution of about $76.7 million—comprise the first funding announcement under “Broadband Canada”; others will follow until all available funds have been allocated. The following companies are conditionally approved for funding:

• ABC (Allen Business) Communications Ltd.

• Barrett Xplore Inc.

• Corridor Communications Inc.

• Cybernet Communications Ltd.

• FlexiNET Broadband Inc.

• GwaiiTel Society

• Manitoba NetSet Ltd.

• Naskapi Imuun Inc.

• Navigue.com

• Northern Broadband Ltd.

• Northwestel Inc.

• OmniGlobe Networks (Conseil des Montagnais de Natashquan)

• OmniGlobe Networks (Shamattawa First Nation)

• OmniGlobe Broadband Inc.

• PCC Communications Inc.

• Vidéotron ltée

• Whapmagoostui Eeyouch Economic Development Corp.

Budget 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan, provided $225 million for the development and implementation of a strategy to extend broadband coverage. The biggest component of this strategy, says the ministry, is “Broadband Canada”, an initiative that targets Canadians living in unserved and underserved areas.

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