Connect Oro-Medonte Internet | Township of Oro-Medonte

High-speed internet access is increasingly important in everyday life, whether it’s required for school, business or even entertainment. The Township recognizes that many residents & businesses have inadequate access to what is now considered a basic service. Canada's telecom regulator (CRTC) has declared that high-speed internet is now a basic service, just like a current landline/telephone.

#ConnectOroMedonte The Township of Oro-Medonte is excited for the future opportunities that have been presented for expansion of high speed internet in the municipality. As a result of Provincial & Federal Funding, and independent actions of Internet Service Providers(ISP) high speed internet access is being expanded in several areas of the Township connecting more residents and businesses, this includes fibre installation and some new towers. To see the areas of expansion and learn more about the projects see the "New Information Section" on this page or in the drop down "Current Initiatives & Advocacy".

Current Initiatives & Advocacy

The Township has worked in partnership with the University of Guelph's Regional & Rural Broadband Project.

2020 Oro-Medonte Internet Survey Analysis - Prepared by University of Guelph R2B2 Rural & Regional Broadband Project

HIGH SPEED INTERNET PROJECTS

SWIFT Program - expansion with Bell Canada, project begins spring of 2021

SWIFT Announcement for Simcoe County
SWIFT Funding Projects Announcement including Oro-Medonte Township
SWIFT Map - identifies project location (zoom in on map to view project locations in Oro-Medonte. Craighurst, Coulson, Sugarbush, Horseshoe Valley, Edgar, Dalston, Moonstone)

Rogers Announcement - Broadband Expansion in Oro-Medonte December 2020 (project begins spring of 2021) Further Information from Rogers

Other Available Funding

Universal Broadband Fund

Staff continues ongoing work with local Internet Service Providers(ISP) and advocating on behalf of the residents and businesses with the Municipality with various levels of government.

Click on the How You Can Help tab to learn more about the Community Internet Survey.

Mandated by federal legislation, all telecommunication tower installations must be submitted to the municipality. Municipal review of telecommunication towers and antennas is governed by the Township’s Protocol for Telecommunication Towers supported by Council in March 2005. The municipal consultation process is part of the requirements by ISED in the approval of telecommunication facilities. The undertaking of telecommunication facilities is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal government. The provisions of the Ontario Planning Act and municipal bylaws and regulations do not apply to Federal undertakings. While the consultation process allows local land use authorities and the public to have input in proposals of telecommunication facilities, local authorities do not have the power to approve or disapprove the location or construction of such facilities. ISED is the ultimate approval authority of such facilities under the Radio-Communication Act.

Each telecommunications tower is a critical part of the ongoing efforts to #ConnectOroMedonte. To stay up-to-date with the installation of telecommunication towers, review upcoming Township Council agendas – available here: https://oromedonte.civicweb.net/Portal/

To inquire about the purpose of each telecommunication tower and how this may affect your connectivity, please contact the Internet Service Provider that owns the tower.

How You Can Help - Survey

Thank you to businesses and residents, there were over 900 responses through the long form Community Internet Survey the Township ran from mid July to mid October 2020. This information assisted with advocacy efforts to connect more locations in the Township.

We will continue to collect data and internet performance tests through a shorter survey:

SHORT INTERNET SURVEY

If you wish to run only a speed test:

INTERNET PERFORMANCE TEST

The data collected though the surveys forms a crucial component for advocacy efforts.

MEDIA RELEASE - Original Survey

SWIFT also has an ongoing Survey - if you are interested in providing feedback to this initiative as well.

Since 2016, information is being collected by the Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC) SouthWestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) initiative, which is working in collaboration with the University of Guelph's R2B2 (Regional and Rural Broadband) project.

If you have completed the SWIFT survey in previous years, they request you to consider doing so again so that change over time can be measured. This includes the recent need for residential and business internet access that you may have experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Internet Service Providers

In rural areas of the Township land-line/Fibre based Internet service options can be limited, challenges seem to be found in areas with less population density. This can also not only mean limited options, but it can also be cost prohibitive and issues with hills and forested terrain add additional challenges. Internet access in these areas are mainly through wireless connections. To assist residents in finding Internet connectivity options that may be available in rural areas of the Township, the municipality has gathered publicly available information about options from the following providers who provide service in the Township:

Bell - 1-877-292-0877
Rogers - 1-888-764-3771
Point to Point - 1-888-730-1360
Starlink - 1-310-363-6000
Ultrafast Wireless - 705-726-4063
Vianet - 1-800-788-0363
Xplornet - 1-866-841-6001

*If you are a service provider and don't see your information on the list please contact the Township.

The Township is continuing to gather information to share with our residents and businesses that will include more information about what Internet Service Providers(ISPs) are available in Oro-Medonte.

Internet Connectivity Task Force

The Internet Task Force worked together collaboratively from 2020 to December 2022. We are greatful to all of the paricipants for their time, expertise and knowledge and helping to move these efforts forward.

The Mandate of the Task Force

To identify broadband initiatives and to advance the goals of the Economic Development Strategy specific to internet, including; exploring mechanisms and best practices of how to facilitate high-speed internet expansion in the Township. The Internet Connectivity Task Force (ICTF) will provide feedback to staff who will share information to Council & the Economic Development Roundtable.

For more information please see the Mandate & Guidelines PDF.