GIMLI, Manitoba - Broadband Internet service is one step closer for over 900 communities across the country. The federal government has funded 65 recipients with up to $30,000 to develop business plans that demonstrate how the service will be used in their regions. A total of $1.7 million will be given out for this round of funding.

Broadband service is a high-speed connection that allows for faster and more dynamic applications such as real-time audio and video.

The funding is part of the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Project which was announced last September. The Program will be delivered through two rounds of business development funding and two rounds of implementation funding. The competition for implementation funding will be open to anyone who wishes to apply, including those who have not received or applied for previous business plan funding.

Business plans that received funding via this announcement must be submitted by November 20, 2003 in order to qualify for the second round of funding that will be released in Spring 2004.

For more details on the broadband project visit http://broadband.gc.ca.

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