North Grenville Council is voicing its support for a proposed $213 million project to improve cell coverage and mobile broadband services in eastern Ontario.
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network has asked for a resolution of support from councils in the region. Last night, council passed the resolution asking that both MP Gord Brown and MPP Steve Clark work closely with the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus and EORN on the infrastructure project.
EORN says the project would involve improving the reach and quality of cellular coverage across the region. It says about a quarter of rural Eastern Ontario cannot access mobile data services but this project is being designed to cover 99 percent of the region where there are homes, businesses or major roads.
EORN says work is still being done on the costing to municipalities. In the last project by the network, $10 million was contributed by Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus members and six separated municipalities. Right now, discussions revolve around a range of $10.1 to $14.2 million.