ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED EXPANDS FURTHER IN MUSKOKA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED EXPANDS FURTHER WITHIN BRACEBRIDGE, HUNTSVILLE AND LAKE OF BAYS


BROADBAND BUILD NEARING COMPLETION

MUSKOKA, Ontario ─ October 27, 2010 ─ Muskoka Community Network (MCN) is pleased to announce that access to high speed internet has arrived for the residents and businesses of four additional areas within Bracebridge, Huntsville and Lake of Bays.

Areas include: Black Bridge within Bracebridge; South Ril Lake and Fox Point within Lake of Bays; and Ilfracombe within Huntsville.
As Muskoka Community Network works to complete the remaining towers, access will continue to expand in the Townships of Lake of Bays and Georgian Bay, as well as the Towns of Huntsville, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. For more information, please visit http://www.mcnet.ca/projects/broadsched/

“If you remain without high speed, please let us know,” said Rob McPhee, Executive Director, Muskoka Community Network. “We will have achieved our goals for this project by the end of this year, so this project will be coming to a close as of December 31.”

Residents without high speed internet access are asked to let Muskoka Community Network know precisely where they are. Individuals can do so by dialing 705-646-9044, or by completing the “I Need Broadband” form located online at www.mcnet.ca.

"High speed internet has been a blessing for our entire family, said Peter Allen, Huntsville resident benefiting from the Ilfracombe tower. “It’s an absolute necessity when it comes to homework for the kids and, for the first time ever, we can download pictures and larger documents in a reasonable fashion.”

TRAINING

In addition to bringing high speed internet to Muskoka, Muskoka Community Network is committed to providing the training necessary to use high speed internet to its maximum potential.

Muskoka Community Network provides classroom style workshops for businesses, organizations and individuals who want to increase their tech knowledge. Topics include Virtual and Mobile Computing, Planning your Website, How to Profit from E-Business, and Technology Management. For more information visit www.mcnet.ca and look for E-Learning – Technology Learning Series.

Muskoka Community Network also provides online training through its Virtual Training Centre. There are over 450 titles to choose from, including word processing, accounting, spreadsheets, graphic design and recently added virtual computing. Subscribers including businesses, government and individual residents are currently learning in this online environment. All you need is a high speed internet connection and a desire to learn.

These online courses are FREE to Muskokans.


BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

The Business and Technology Centre of Excellence is a venue open to those in need of technology to host meetings, workshops or training sessions. The Centre is equipped with a large projection screen, 2-40 inch display screens and 8 desks with “hook-up technology” enabling individuals to display to one or all of the screens. To request the centre, please visit www.mcnet.ca/btce

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.

To date, Muskoka Community Network has secured 2.5 million dollars in public funding from FedNor and has facilitated approximately 1.5 million additional dollars of technology investment in Muskoka. 1.7 million dollars was secured for broadband (high speed) alone. Additional funding has been allocated towards improving online communications for our communities, and providing training on how best to leverage online opportunities.


ABOUT MUSKOKA COMMUNITY NETWORK
Muskoka Community Network (MCN) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing high speed internet to Muskoka. MCN is also committed to providing the training necessary to use high speed internet to its maximum potential.

If you are currently without access to high speed, or are interested in training opportunities, visit www.mcnet.ca



-30-



For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:



Rob McPhee
Muskoka Community Network
705-646-9044
rob.mcphee@mcnet.ca

Alison Withey
Blue Whale Communications Inc.
705-783-4218 (mobile)
alison@bluewhalecommunications.com


---------------------------------------

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