Thursday, December 11, 2008

Web 2.0 Developers Provide 'Fast and Easy" Solutions For Businesses.

Web 2.0 technology has been around for a few years now. This article in the Globe and Mail illustrates how tech companies are using Web 2.0 to provide new services to make businesses more efficient.

Read more at:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081125.wsb-missioncriticaldiscussion1211/BNStory/MissionCritical/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081125.wsb-missioncriticaldiscussion1211

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Monday, December 8, 2008

FedNor contributes to Muskoka Community Network



Muskoka Community Network Recieves FedNor Contribution

A FedNor investment of $491,200 will provide Muskoka Community Network (MCN) with funding to support and expand its regional ICT Network. Specifically, FedNor funding will allow MCN to coordinate the deployment of broadband services in unserviced communities and deliver a variety of ICT-related services and training opportunities to residents and businesses throughout its service area.

An additional FedNor investment of $48,000 was also provided to MCN to host Ontario’s Digital Economy Conference, a very successful pan-provincial ICT conference that took place in Huntsville from October 1st to 3rd, 2008.


For more information about this announcement please visit the follow URL's:

http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/fednor-fednor.nsf/en/fn03047e.html

http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/fednor-fednor.nsf/en/fn03046e.html


For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Friday, November 28, 2008

Saskatchewan invests $129 Million in Broadband

The Province of Saskatchewan is investing $129 Million dollars to bring broadband to the entire province over 3 years. For more details visit:

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/11/26/internet-access.html?ref=rss

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Friday, November 21, 2008

CRTC Denies CAIP request

On November 20th, 2008, the CRTC announced that is has denied the request to have Bell Canada cease it's bandwidth shaping policies.

More information on this decision can be found at :
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2008/r081120.htm

For more information on broadband, and digital technologyMuskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at www.mcnet.ca

Monday, November 17, 2008

Canadians Purchase $12.8 Billion. How much in Muskoka?

On November 17th, the Globe and Mail reported that Canadians placed $12.8 Billion worth of goods in 2007. This is an increase of 61% from the year 2005.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081117.wgtstatscan1117/BNStory/Technology/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081117.wgtstatscan1117

We don't have statistics for Muskoka readily available regarding online purchasing, but for sake of argument, let us assume that Muskoka is an average place. Based on the numbers above, if we reverse engineer the national numbers and then re-calculate for Muskoka population the numbers would look like this. ($12,800,000,000 online sales) divide by (Canada's population of approxmately 33,431,565) = $382 per capita in Canada for 2007.

Now, lets see what Muskoka might look like. ($382 per capita) times (estimated permanent population of 53,000) = 20,460,000. That is Twenty Million-Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand dollars. This is a rough estimate of the size of Muskoka's online purchasing power. These calculations don't even include the seasonal population.

Arguably, we have our own demographics and the numbers will vary somewhat from this estimate. But let's think about this.......The size of the market in Muskoka for online transactions is somewhere in the neighbourhood of $20 Million dollars per year. That's enough to make you sit up and take notice.

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit Muskoka Community Network's website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Speakers at Ontario's Digital Economy Conference

Hello:

Ontario's Digital Economy Conference now has an excellent line-up of speakers.

Participants from Small Business, Big Business, Governments of all levels, and Inustry associations will enjoy the truly exciting presentations offered at this conference.

Register today. http://www.thedigitaleconomy.ca

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Ontario's Digital Economy Conference

Muskoka Community Network is please to announce Ontario’s Digital Economy Conference which will take place in Huntsville, Ontario from October 1st to 3rd, 2008. The conference will be set against the beautiful backdrop of Muskoka’s Deerhurst Resort and Conference Centre, site of the prestigious G8 Summit in 2010.

The conference programme will focus on the transformation of Ontario’s economic, social and environmental future and will be viewed through three broad themes:

  • Ontario’s current position and that of other jurisdictions;

  • An examination of innovative applications, their use and potential impact;

  • A look at how Ontario can reap the benefits of technology in the knowledge economy and the best means of doing so.
This conference will showcase champions who have transformed their worlds through the power of technology, leadership and vision, and provide an inside look at the stunning advances in health related applications. As well participants will experience motivating real life e-business success stories and much, much more.

As keynote speaker, Mr. Louis Zacharilla, Director of Development and co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), New York City will provide an overview on how global communities are beginning to transform themselves into intelligent communities.

Dr. Ed Brown will talk about health care transformation and his vision for its future. Dr. Brown is the first Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Telehealth Network (OTN). In 1998 Dr. Brown founded NORTH Network that evolved from studying telehealth as a vehicle to alleviate barriers to accessing health care posed by distance and a shortage of health professionals in Northern Ontario.

Ontario’s Digital Economy Conference will be of particular interest to business and sector associations, community and economic development organizations, all levels of government and their agencies, academics, SME’s and ICT companies.

Don’t miss Ontario’s Digital Economy Conference. The dynamic programme and the Deerhurst venue will make it a memorable event.


For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Harper - "Potential for a Knowledge Based Economy"

The Prime Minister of Canada recently announced that the 2010 - G8 Economic Summit will be held in Huntsville, Ontario.

During his announcement he was quoted as saying "This is a diverse economy, notwithstanding that it is a rural economy....you have the potential for a knowledge-based economy,".

For more information regarding this announcement please visit:
http://209.200.253.26/special/almaguin/data/pdfs/43/AN03.pdf
and
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=2155

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Friday, June 20, 2008

2008 - G8 Economic Summit to be held in Huntsville - Muskoka

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Canada will host the 2008 G8 Economic Summit at Deerhust Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. This event will bring significant attraction and investment to Muskoka.

For more information visit.
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=2155

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

4G Mobile Networks Get Closer

The Financial Times - UK reports that over the next 4 years, that mobile internet connectivity will get an overhaul. 4G networks are expected to bring speeds of up to 100Mbps to mobile users using technologies such as WiMax and 3GPP and LTE.

For the complete story from the Financial Times visit http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0e6fa1e6-3ccf-11dd-b958-0000779fd2ac.html

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Bell Must Prove It's Case Publicly CRTC Says

CBC News has reported that the CRTC has ordered Bell to publicly prove that the Internet systems which they operate are congested. This is the latest development in the complaint that the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) placed with the CRTC.

For more information on this topic visit http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/06/19/tech-bell.html for a complete story by CBC.


For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Mayor's task force releases e-government report

As reported by the Ottawa Business Journal, a report by the Mayor's task force on e-government indicates the City of Ottawa sees e-government as the way to improve public service and costs associated with delivering that service.

For more information please visit:
http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/291945737184651.php or http://ottawa.taskforcereport.ca/documents

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

CRTC sides with Bell throttling complaint, for now.

Today, the Globe and Mail reported that Bell can continue with it's bandwidth throttling policy in response to a complaint put forward to the CRTC by the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP). For more information on this story go here.


For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) being questioned by The Canadian Privacy Commission

CanWest News Service has reported that the The University of Ottawa's Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic has complained the practice of deep packet inspection (DPI) is contrary to the country's privacy legislation.

For more information on this story please visit this link.

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Bell insists throttling Internet services necessary

The Montreal Gazette reports that "Bell insists throttling Internet services necessary".

Bell's statement was made as a response to the Canadian Association of Internet Providers request to CRTC to have Bell cease and desist bandwidth shaping.

For more information visit:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=3b50140e-610c-4245-a234-1ae04193a5f2&k=66930

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Australia Ups the Broadband Bar

The Australians seem to be following a process similar to the Canadian one when it comes to public broadband development.

Recently, the Federal Government in Australia issued request for proposals from interested parties to supply broadband to 98% of Australia's premises.

However, the one notable difference is the speed requirement that the Australians are looking for. They are looking for 12Mbps connections. Currently these speeds are usually top end packages in Canada for residential and small businesses, but the Australians are setting higher speed as the new norm.

To remain competitive in the Global economy, Canada, and certainly Muskoka will need to work hard to pace this gap.

For more information visit:
http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1787

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Monday, March 31, 2008

NUPGE asks CRTC to investigate TRAFFIC SHAPING"

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) asks CRTC to investigate Internet 'traffic shaping'

http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=82157&issue=03312008

http://www.nupge.ca/news_2008/n28ma08c.htm

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Thursday, March 27, 2008

BIG BUZZ on the Internet over BANDWIDTH SHAPING

It seems that Bell is moving forward with bandwidth shaping. Implementing this policy affects broadband service delivery for consumers, and now also affects many ISP's who purchase wholesale bandwidth from Bell. Effectively, Bell, is throttling bandwidth in a way that affects service delivery to their retail and wholesale (smaller ISP's) customers.

For Internet users, bandwidth shaping can be compared to buying water through a piped service, and if the company that provides that piped water doesn't like how much water you are using at a particular time, they turn your tap down to a trickle, or in this case they throttle your bandwidth and limit your speed.

Here are several stories that cover BANDWIDTH SHAPING and demonstrate how this is affecting certain consumers, content providers, and ISP's.

(For an explanation on BANDWIDTH SHAPING see our earlier blog entry at http://mcnblogger.blogspot.com/2007/12/content-and-bandwidth-shaping-free.html )

CBC reports that "ISP's LIMIT ACCESS TO CBC DOWNLOAD, USERS SAY".
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2008/03/26/bittorrent-cbc.html

Digitalhome.ca reports that "ISP's CRY FOUL OVER TRAFFIC SHAPING".
http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/2402/206/

The Globe and Mail reports that "BELL IRKS ISPS WITH NEW THROTTLING POLICY", http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080325.wgtinternet26/BNStory/Technology

The Globe and Mail also reports that "BELL TO PLAY TRAFFIC COP ON INTERNET BANDWIDTH".
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080326.RINTERNET26/TPStory/Business

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at http://www.mcnet.ca/

Friday, March 7, 2008

Muskoka E-business Forum - March 26th, 2008

The Muskoka E-Business Forum 'E-Biz for Your Biz!'


The Muskoka E-Business Forum is a dynamic day long seminar on March 26th 2008 for Muskoka. Hosted by the Muskoka Enterprise Centre and Muskoka Community Network, the E-Biz Forum will explore the future and opportunities of E-Business and Web 2.0.

Learn how to turn E-Business into dollars for Your Business.
For more information click Here

To Register Now, Click Here



The E-Business Forum will feature Fascinating speakers including:
Keynote: Robert J. Sawyer
A renowned author and speaker, his non-fiction has appeared in Canadian Business, The Financial Times of Canada, The Globe & Mail, Maclean's and Report on Business Magazine. As both a business speaker and science fiction author, Robert will highlight the opportunities offered to busines by the growth of E-Business and Web 2.0. Robert specializes in making sense of technology and distilling the opportunities in plain english.


Panelist: Kenneth Donald
Kenneth Donald is an accomplished business executive with extensive local, national and international experience in Information Technology and E-Business. Kenneth is a Muskoka resident and will explore with you the opportunities of E-Business for small businesses right here in Muskoka! Kenneth will then discuss Business Re-Engineering for E-Business and how it applies to businesses like yours!

Panelist: Rob McPhee

Rob has been involved with business and technology for more than 20 years. Over his career Rob has provided technology solutions to meet business goals to a wide variety of clients including multi-national corporations, governments at all levels, and small and medium sized businesses.
For the Muskoka E-business forum, Rob will provide a practical approach with 5 online marketing strategies available to your organization.


More coming soon! The Muskoka E-Business forum is an excellent opportunity to showcase your company's products and services. Showcase your company to a diverse array of Muskoka Businesses and Decision Makers.


Sponsorship provided by:








For more information on Sponsoring or Exhibiting at this event please click here.









View Larger Map


When:
Wednesday March 26th, 2008 8:45am

With Generous Support From:

The Muskoka E-Business Forum is a joint venture between Muskoka Community Network and Muskoka Enterprise Centre




























































For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca







Friday, February 22, 2008

Media Reports on Broadband

Various Muskoka publications including the Bracebridge Examiner, the Gravenhurst Banner, the Huntsville Forester, and Muskoka Today have been running stories related to broadband projects in the Muskoka area.

To find the articles that have appeared in the Bracebridge Examiner and the Gravenhurst Banner follow this link:
http://www.muskoka-news.com/searchResults?t=&r=category%3A%22Muskoka%22&q=broadband

To find articles that have appeared in the Huntsville Forester follow this link: http://www.huntsvilleforester.com/searchResults?t=&r=category%3A%22Forester%22&q=broadband

To find articles that have appeared in Muskoka Today follow this link:
http://www.muskokatoday.com/

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

E-learning online

Today, there are many excellent resources available to assist your organization in providing a great web prescense.

Muskoka Community Network provides online learning through our Technology Learning Centre. Here you can logon and get online training access to over 400 titles. These titles include office software, computer operating systems, accounting applications, and web development. For more infomation please contact Muskoka Community Network.

Another great resources is Tourism Keys which can be found at http://www.tourismkeys.ca/. Tourism Keys provides excellent online training videos for those who want to learn how to create new business opportunities in tourism with Internet marketing.

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

HIGH SPEED INTERNET ARRIVES IN SEVERAL MUSKOKA-BASED TOWNS

HIGH SPEED (BROADBAND) INTERNET ARRIVES IN SEVERAL MUSKOKA-BASED TOWNS
Unserved Rural Residents and Businesses Anticipated to Benefit from New Service

BRACEBRIDGE – January 14th, 2008 - Muskoka Community Network (MCN) is
pleased to announce that high speed internet (broadband) has arrived for the first time ever in the following areas:

Within the town of Gravenhurst
• West Gravenhurst

Within the town of Bracebridge
• Portions of Springdale Park
• Portions of Falkenburg Station, and
• Stephenson Road 1 near Highway 11

Within the township of Georgian Bay
• Expanded high speed internet has been delivered south and west of the town of Mactier.

Service is expected to arrive within the town of Huntsville the first quarter of 2008 and
within the township of Lake of Bays the third quarter of 2008.

“For the past two years, Muskoka Community Network has been working hard to bring
high speed internet to the 12,000 Muskoka-based businesses and residents operating
without it,” said Rob McPhee, Executive Director, Muskoka Community Network.

“Thanks to substantial funding from FedNor ─ and the efforts of Core Broadband in
building the necessary infrastructure ─ our plans are coming to fruition.”
The newly established wireless broadband coverage is expected to reach 80 per cent of
the unserved population in the areas noted above. These areas are the first to receive high
speed under this project. Coverage will continue to improve as more towers come online.

For those unable to access high speed wireless service, satellite high speed may be
available.

IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT in these communities, or areas, and would like to determine if
you are eligible for high speed wireless on this network, contact a Core Broadband reseller.

To find a Core Broadband reseller visit www.corebroadband.ca and click on ISP’S (internet
service providers).

You can also find a complete list of ISP’s IN MUSKOKA by visiting
http://www.mcnet.ca/servicedirectory/ISP/

About FedNor
FedNor is a federal regional development organization in Ontario that works with a
variety of partners, as both a facilitator and catalyst, to help create an environment in
which communities can thrive, businesses can grow and people can prosper.

In 2007, Muskoka Community Network secured $1.7 million from FedNor towards the
development of an infrastructure to deliver broadband to unserved areas; and through an
open bidding process retained Core Broadband to begin building the necessary
infrastructure early last year.

About Muskoka Community Network
Muskoka Community Network (MCN) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
facilitating the implementation of telecommunications solutions for the regions of
Muskoka and Almaguin by working with, and forming partnerships with both the public
and private sectors.

-30-

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rob McPhee
Muskoka Community Network 705-646-9044
rob.mcphee@mcnet.ca

OR
Alison Withey
Blue Whale Communications Inc.
705-788-0080
alison@bluewhalecommunications.com

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at www.mcnet.ca

Monday, January 21, 2008

Another ISP reseller joins the Open Access Network!

ANOTHER ISP RESELLER JOINS THE OPEN ACCESS NETWORK!
Click Here to find the areas which are now being served by the company Core Broadband , which MCN has contracted to build the open access network in Muskoka. The service area is continually expanding so please check back often. Now two resellers, Vianet and Surenet, have joined this open access network to provide expanded coverage to Muskoka. Contact information for these ISP's is listed on the ISP reseller section of Core Broadband's website.

If you cannot get broadband (high speed) coverage under Core Broadband's network you may be able to get coverage from other ISP's in Muskoka. Click Here for a comprehensive list of ISP's operating in our area.

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at
www.mcnet.ca

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Municipality Turns to E-Business

According to the Bracebridge Examiner, Muskoka Lakes Township has recently adopted a new form of e-business to serve residents called BizPal.
http://www.bracebridgeexaminer.com/muskokanews/article/59489

The BizPal service allows businesses to receive documents and permits electronically via broadband. This is an excellent example of how municipalities (or really any organization) can embrace e-business to serve their population.

For more information visit the Township website at http://www.muskokalakes.ca/

For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network website at http://www.mcnet.ca/

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Broadband Improves Education Opportunities

As you probably know, Muskoka has a large rural area which has many areas and communities which are unserved by broadband.

I was recently speaking with a high school teacher in Muskoka who teaches technology related curriculum to his students. He was explaining how his students are "HAVE" and "HAVE NOT" students. What he meant was the "BROADBAND HAVES", and the "BROADBAND HAVE NOTS".

He went on to explain how the HAVES have better access to research material for school projects. Additionally, he explained how the HAVES socialize with their peers online in a way that the HAVE NOTS are not able to.

Now consider the post secondary education scene. Recently the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is offering free courses online. This is attracting over 1,000,000 (1 million) broadband users a month, including users from as far away as Istanbul (Turkey). So it is really very easy to see how access to broadband means access to education and training. For more information see http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/12/31/mit.html

In Muskoka we want students of all ages to have access to the resources and materials that will empower the upcoming generation. Good access to broadband will play a vital role in that empowerment.
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For more information on broadband and technology in Muskoka, visit the Muskoka Community Network at our website at http://www.mcnet.ca

What type of internet connection do you have?