6.4: Federal Funding
Industry Canada has operated several funding programs for aiding in the deployment of broadband Infrastructure. One of its largest programs is called Broadband for Rural And Northern Development (BRAND) [10], which was announced in 2002 with a budget of $105 million. The program provides funding for both the development of business plans and project implementation. After two rounds of funding handed out $4.2 million for 154 business plans and $79 million for 58 project implementations across Canada, the program now appears to be on hiatus. Hopefully a third application round will soon be announced to utilize the remaining $22 million in the fund. Industry Canada has also operated the Community Access Program and the Schoolnet program since about 1995. These programs brought public Internet access sites to libraries, schools and community centres, and have been instrumental in increasing rural Canadians' knowledge and comfort level with computers and the Internet. Bringing broadband infrastructure to communities, however, is beyond the scope of these programs.
FedNor [28] is another major funding source to rural Northern Ontario, and it is also operated by Industry Canada. FedNor provides funding for information and communications technology projects, including the wireless mesh network recently implemented in Chapleau, Ontario. Funding can be obtained for nearly any phase of a project's development, including studies and plans, hiring staff and purchasing equipment. The funding amounts are flexible, depending on the magnitude of the proposal. With a new federal government in power, however, the future of the FedNor and BRAND funding programs may be in question.
© Jake Cormier, 2006 [jake (at) stormcloudstudios.com]
Completed as a partial requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Science (specialized)
Department of Computer Science :: Algoma University College :: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario :: Spring 2006