Need for speed<br> RRFDC submits funding apps. for broadband in Morson area

Ken Johnston

It is now a matter of waiting to see if funding from two government agencies will come through for expansion of wireless broadband internet services, and eventually cell phone services to the west end of the Rainy River District.
The Morson area has been actively pushing for cell phone services ever since the first towers went up in the Rainy River to Thunder Bay corridor about four years ago.
Rainy River Future Development Corporation (RRFDC) just recently completed the application for funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor to add new towers to the area, including one at Bergland, Morson and Dearlock.
Working with the Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing NeYaa-Zhing Advisory Services have applied for $1.19 million from the two agencies to put towers up that would deliver high speed (broadband) internet services to the areas in and around those new towers as well as offer a wireless alternative to land lines in the Fort Frances to Rainy River First Nation areas.
RRFDC Economic Development Officer Geoff Gillon hopes to hear from the two government agencies by the end of May or early June. If they are approved work on them will begin this summer.
Gillon also noted that enhancements will be made to the Rainy River tower to provide the wireless high speed service to the average consumer at a lower price than the current commercial service now offered at $65/month.
This application for funding is an extension of the Canada’s Broadband Project for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) project started in 2003 when the land line high speed internet was approved from Fort Frances to RR First Nation and up to Nestor Falls. “This application for funding is part of an ongoing effort by RRFDC and Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing NeYaa-Zhing Advisory Services to bring broadband service to the entire Rainy River District as part of the June 2003 agreement between the two organizations,” said Gillon.
Since the government is no longer funding cell phone networks, the main push for a cell tower in Morson will have to take a backdoor to get into the area. Once the broadband towers are in place Thunder Bay Telephone is considering adding cell phone equipment to them and hence expanding their coverage area into Morson and other areas north of Hwy. 11 off the Dearlock tower.
“I am confident that once the broadband service is in place, cell service will follow on the heels of it,” said Gillon.
Gillon is very optimistic about the project. His only fear is that a federal election could put approval of funds on hold, something he hopes will not happen.