IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Township seeking input on internet needs and services in Ramara

Ramara/February 5, 2021-The Township understands that internet access is important in everyday life and is asking for the community's input on internet services and needs in Ramara in order to help with any future plans for internet expansion.

In 2016, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) declared that high-speed internet is now a basic service and established a universal service objective that Canadians in rural and remote areas have access to broad internet services. As part of that objective, the Township has started to expand internet services in Ramara, but we understand that there is still need for improvement. The Township is asking residents to send in their comments with their address on the current service being offered and their needs to responses@ramara.ca. This information will not be shared, but is critical in determining the future needs of the community in expanding internet services.

"High-speed broadband internet is an essential service needed for quality of life, economic benefit, community development and education," says Mayor Basil Clarke. "The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the gaps of the current network in Ramara and reinforced the urgent need to invest in bringing high-speed broad internet services to rural homes in Ramara. At
this time, we are looking for responses from residents on where they live, their internet service and their needs. This will help in our understanding of who is in need and where to expand."

In March of 2020, the Township of Ramara entered into a partnership with Xplornet to help start the process in achieving internet connectivity to Ramara. In December 2020, three new wireless towers were constructed along with upgrades to five existing wireless sites. When completed, these sites provide service up to 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) with unlimited data. As well, in December of 2020, the County of Simcoe announced that Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) awarded $41.2 million in funding to support six fibre to home projects across Simcoe County. In Ramara, the new project would affect residents living in the area of Uptergrove, Joyland Beach, Fawn Bay and Longford Mills. The project is set to commence in 2021
and be finished by early 2022.

For more information on internet services in Ramara including Xplornet Communications Inc, the SWIFT program, funding and maps, please visit www.ramara.ca/internet/.

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Media Contacts
Ashley Watson
Business and Communications Coordinator
Township of Ramara
705-484-5374 ext. 322
awatson@ramara.ca