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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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To Register Now, Click Here

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Sponsorship provided by:

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

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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

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

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

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.

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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

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

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/

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

December 2007 Issue - MCN Newsletter - The Packet

Hello from Muskoka Community Network(MCN):

The December 2007 issue of Muskoka Community Network's newletter The Packet is now available online. http://www.mcnet.ca/Docs/packet/12152007.pdf

In this issue:

• Broadband Update
• Tourism Keys III
• Content and Bandwith Shaping
• What does RSS do for me?

We hope you enjoy this issue.

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

Town of Hunstville Engages New Blog Technology

It is exciting to see the Town of Huntsville engage Blog technology to gain input for their master plan.

The Town is soliciting input from the public in consideration of the Huntsville master plan.
See http://huntsvilleplan.blogspot.com/

This is a great example of using Web 2.0 technology to meet organizational goals.

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

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