Officials in Bruce County are looking to plug some broadband holes.
Council agreed yesterday to allow the Information Technology department to hire a project coordinator on a 1-year term to oversee an application to the Province.
The application is for the requisition of up to one million dollars to lobby internet service providers to provide hi-speed internet access in areas in Bruce County that are not serviced by broadband.
IT Manager Grahame Barrie says if successful the grant will cover 30 percent of the cost of the marketing campaign.
Barrie says the campaign will help vendors get into these areas and offer more initiative to do so.
He says he has been getting complaints from people who wonder why they don’t have broadband internet access.
Barrie thinks it is an ecomonic boost if those in rural areas of the County are able to do stuff on the computer like remote education and tele-communicating.
Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer did have some reservations with the decision to hire the project coordinator.
He thinks the County is becoming close to getting into the business of providing internet access.
Kraemer says private sector companies are more than welcome to come in and offer internet service but the initiative should not be funded through the County tax base.
But Barrie says the County will only be acting as a facilitator and not a provider.
No word as to the total cost of the project.
