Dec 03, 2014


At our November 10th public meeting in Snow Road with representatives of EORN (Eastern Ontario Regional Network), we were basically informed that North Frontenac and Lanark Highlands can expect no help whatsoever from EORN to expedite either cellular or improved internet service in our huge “dead zone” area. The message delivered by EORN was that they consider that they have completed their mandate from the EOWC (Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus) to improve coverage in under-served areas of eastern Ontario. We strongly disagree! There are still major gaps in Lanark Highlands and North Frontenac!

For cellular coverage in our area, which is considered key backbone infrastructure for economic growth in rural townships, Rogers has recently announced plans to build cell towers in Clayton, McDonalds Corners and Snow Road to help cover the “black hole” left by EORN and Bell. We understand that Lanark County’s Broadband Committee played a key role in this, and we thank them for taking the initiative. We also want to thank Rogers for stepping up to the plate.

For affordable reliable broadband internet coverage, which is also considered a key backbone for economic growth, most of North Frontenac continues to have as its only choice Xplornet direct-to-satellite service. Xplornet is more expensive and less reliable than tower-based broadband service, and is completely inadequate for some web-based businesses. Given the existing Bell cell towers in North Frontenac lake country and the planned new Rogers towers, tower-based broadband internet could be achieved by installing internet antennas on existing towers. We are told by EORN that this can be expensive because tower owners charge exorbitant rent for antenna space, which is one way to circumvent CRTC policy that tower space must be shared. This policy has been put in place to promote leveraging private sector investment in expensive towers to provide maximum service to the public. Surely EORN can help us negotiate a solution for tower sharing that will meet the needs of all parties and comply with the spirit of the CRTC policy.

If North Frontenac and Lanark Highlands are to succeed in their economic growth strategies, it is absolutely critical to be able to advertise a high standard of cell/internet service that will attract new businesses to the townships. Right now, we don’t have either, and it looks like EORN has no plans to help us! We expect that our new mayors, Ron Higgins and Brian Stewart, will work to exert pressure on EOWC and EORN to address this major oversight.

John Kittle

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