Wireless Broadband Service Expands in Muskoka

Core Broadband, the wholesale network provider contracted by Muskoka Community Network, is continuing to expand wireless broadband service accross Muskoka.

More information about this service and how to access it can be found at:
http://www.corebroadband.ca/
http://www.corebroadband.ca/Towers.html

Visit Muskoka Community Network at our website at
www.mcnet.ca

Nova Scotia Invests $74 Million in Rural Broadband

Nova Scotia is committing $74 million to bring broadband to rural areas.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/996340.html

This project is a result of contributions from The Federal Government, The Province, Bragg Communications and Seaside Communications.

For more information on this story please visit:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/996340.html


Visit Muskoka Community Network at our website:
www.mcnet.ca

New Internet Tools Tax Internet Backbone Infrastructure

The Washington post reports that Internet users are embracing video, file sharing and music downloads at an astonishing rate, and all this information flows over the information highway.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112400807.html

The question is can the digital highway handle the added traffic?

A new study indicates that in it's current state the Internet backbone will have trouble keeping up with this continually increasing flow of digital traffic.

The "side roads" of the internet continue to grow, and all that traffic flows back to the major arteries. It is these major arteries that are bulging and will need significant upgrades to keep pace with the growth of traffic.

Improved local routing, caching, and improving technology infrastructure will all play a part in ensuring that broadband keeps the internet thriving.

Visit Muskoka Community Network at our website at http://www.mcnet.ca

GRAVENHURST TO RECEIVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET SOONER THAN EXPECTED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


GRAVENHURST TO RECEIVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET
SOONER THAN EXPECTED

Local Firefighters and Public Works Gain Improved Radio Coverage in the Process


BRACEBRIDGE – December 3, 2007 - Muskoka Community Network (MCN) is pleased to announce that by working together with the Town of Gravenhurst, many residents and businesses of Gravenhurst will have access to high speed internet 1.5 years sooner than originally planned. It is now anticipated that Gravenhurst will have access to high speed the first quarter of 2008 (formerly late 2009).

Collaboration with the Town has also brought about a solution to two of Gravenhurst’s more pressing communications challenges ─ insufficient two-way radio coverage for both firefighters and the Town’s Public Works department.

“In conversation with Muskoka Community Network we were able to arrange for our new radio equipment to be fixed atop the new broadband towers.” said Bob Colhoun, Deputy Mayor, Gravenhurst.

There will now be upgraded two-way radio coverage for Gravenhurst’s firefighters, improving both public and firefighter safety. There will also be an improvement in two-way radio coverage for the Town’s Public Works department, improving overall efficiency of the department.

“This is truly a win win for the Town of Gravenhurst,” added Colhoun. “Not only will we receive the highly anticipated high speed access sooner, we have saved the Town a large sum of money by optimizing Muskoka Commuity Network’s publicly (FedNor) funded project.”

"This is excellent news for families and businesses in Gravenhurst and I'm proud that our government was able to provide funding to help get this done," said Tony Clement, Minister for FedNor and MP for Parry Sound - Muskoka. "Our partnership with MCN and the Town of Gravenhurst is one more example of how important FedNor investment is to Muskoka and Parry Sound."

“Muskoka Community Network is committed to making the most of the public funding afforded by FedNor,” said Rob McPhee, Executive Director, Muskoka Community Network. “We would be more than happy to work with other towns and townships to explore common goals if opportunity exists.”

(more)
Gravenhurst to Receive / Page 2 of 2


On Bringing High Speed to Muskoka

It is estimated that 12,000 Muskoka-based businesses and residents are currently without access to high speed internet.

“In today’s competitive marketplace, access to high speed internet is a necessary advantage,” said Rob McPhee. “Not only does it benefit business, but residential consumers as well, who are continually in search of better and faster service.”

For the past two years, Muskoka Community Network has been working to bring high speed internet to the unserved businesses and residents of Muskoka and Almaguin.

To date, Muskoka Community Network has performed a gap analysis to determine who is currently without access; has secured substantial funds from FedNor ($1.7 million) 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 earlier this year.

Under this project, wireless broadband coverage is expected to reach 80 per cent of Gravenhurst’s unserved population, including Kilworthy, Kahshe, Houseys Rapids and Barkway. Approximately 20 per cent of the population may not be able to receive service due to terrain or low elevation issues.

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.

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

Alison Withey
Blue Whale Communications Inc.
705-788-0080

Visit Muskoka Community Network at our website at http://www.mcnet.ca

Broadband in Muskoka

Hello from Muskoka Community Network:

Muskoka Community Network is continuing to work towards bringing broadband to Muskoka. Getting businesses and residents high speed internet is one of our main purposes. We know that dial up has limitations and being limited to that technology will hamper the economic and social growth of the area.

We have several different Internet Service Providers in Muskoka. Click here for a complete list of ISPs.

For more information on what Muskoka Community Network is doing to bring broadband to Muskoka visit our website at http://www.mcnet.ca

Get Trained Workers

Hello All:

I have just read in August 2007 edition of "North Country Business" that several agencies across Northern Ontario have come together and provided technology that matchs job seekers and job hunters. This is being done through the website http://www.gettrainedworkers.com/

This kind of regional web prescense helps create "web density" in Northern Ontario. In Muskoka we also need to continue to work on creating web density for our region. The work that "Muskoka Tourism" http://www.discovermuskoka.ca has done in expanding their web prescense assists in helping all businesses in Northern Ontario and Muskoka.

Way to go folks, keep up the good work.

Cheers

Rob McPhee

Internet Service Provider List for Muskoka

Do you need a complete list of internet service providers in Muskoka?

Algonquin Satellite Solutions
1-705-788-4064
algonquinsat@xplornet.com
Satellite

Ardco Systems Inc.
705-746-7610
http://www.ardco.ca/
Satellite

Avery Audio
705-766-2422
http://www.averyaudio.ca/
Satellite

Bell Sympatico
310-7873
http://www.bell.ca/
DSL

Bell Mobility
1-888-454-2676
http://www.Businessonthego.ca/faster
Wireless

Burk’s Falls Radio & TV
1-705-382-2726
Satellite

Candlelight Communications
1-866-629-6616
http://www.candlelight.ca/
Wireless

Click 1 Wireless
1-705-224-1111
http://www.click1.ca/
Wireless, Satellite

Cogeco
1-800-267-9000
http://www.cogeco.ca/
Cable

CompuSat
416-301-4421
http://www.galaxybroadband.ca/
Satellite

Cottage,Home & Business Wireless Internet
1-705-762-3535
http://www.chbhighspeed.net/
Wireless

Daniels Computer Service
705 385 3249
http://www.calldaniels.biz/
Satellite

Hemmings TV & Audio service, Huntsville
1-705-789-3662
Satellite

Huronia Satellite Systems, Midland
1-800-553-4419
http://www.huroniasatellite.on.ca/
Satellite

Indigiinet
1-866-235-7510
http://www.indigiinet.com/
Wireless

Lakeland Energy
1-705-646-9014
http://www.lakelandenergy.com/
Fibre

MCC Solutions
1-705-635-3473
http://www.mccsolutions.ca/
Satellite, Wireless, Hotspot

Point to Point Broadband
1-705-721-9877
http://www.ptpbroadband.com/
Wireless

Safe N Sound
1-705-389-2908
http://www.safensound.ca/
Satellite

Surenet
1-866-700-1977
http://www.surenet.net/
Cable, DSL

Vianet
1-800-788-0363
http://www.vianet.ca/
Cable, DSL, Wireless, Fibre

Muskoka.com has been transferred to Vianet.
See http://www.muskoka.com/index1.htm for more details

W3 Connex
1-888-235-9326
http://www.w3connex.com/
Wireless, Fibre

NOTE: MCN has made best efforts to include all known internet service providers in and around Muskoka and properly describe their services. If you are a service provider and we have missed you, or information needs to be updated, please contact us.

For a complete up to date list visit
http://www.mcnet.ca/servicedirectory/ISP/

http://http://www.mcnet.ca/

Keep up to date at Muskoka Community Network

Hello All:

When you join the MCN e-mail list, we will send you periodic updates on things like broadband expansion, training opportunities, and our newsletter. What's really cool is when you subscribe to a certain topic, you only receive information on that topic. This way you get the right information, and keep inbox clutter to a minimum.
http://www.mcnet.ca/signup

Cheers

Rob McPhee

MCN Frequently Asked Questions

Hello Everyone:

If you are interested in finding out what Muskoka Community Network is doing to bring high speed internet to Muskoka, you may want to read MCN's recently published frequently asked questions document (FAQ) which you can find at http://www.mcnet.ca/faq/

Cheers

Rob McPhee

Muskoka Community Network

Hello Everyone:

Welcome to the Muskoka Community Network Blog.

Check back from time to time to find information on our organization and projects.

Rob McPhee