Northern Ontario has several areas where internet service doesn’t run efficiently. The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities want to change that.
Federation President Danny Whalen says the board is looking to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for improvements.
He says the board has adopted a resolution supporting Starlink, a satellite internet service that is being developed by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s known as Space X.
He adds the resolution also calls on the commission to permit and expand the company a Basic International Telecommunications Services license emphasizing the service is the best option for citizens to conduct day-to-day business on the Net.
Whalen says they will talk to partners and the 110-member communities for their support to send the resolution to the CRTC.
Whalen says the discussions surrounding broadband and connectivity and advancing technologies dominated much of the meeting as FONOM looks to work with other municipal organizations and governments to bring improved Internet services to its member communities.
He adds other issues discussed during the meeting included Ontario Provincial Police governance and Ontario’s Blue Box system support.
The Board also explored how it can support industry and business in the North in a post-pandemic world and welcomed the announcement of the start of the Côté Gold Project, near Gogama. He notes it demonstrates the vital role of Northern Ontario in the provincial and national economies.
FONOM is an association of some 110 districts/municipalities/cities/towns in Northeastern Ontario. It is mandated to work for the betterment of municipal government in Northern Ontario and to strive for improved legislation respecting local government in the North. It is a membership-based association that draws its members from northeastern Ontario and is governed by an 11-member board.