Feds to invest $305 million into rural internet

CTV London: Internet access Does the federal budget have enough to bring rural Canadians into the 21st century? Scott Miller reports.

Faster internet for more Canadians was one of the key promises from the feds in the 2014 budget, something business owners in rural centres say will be key to their economic fortunes.

On Tuesday, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the government’s commitment of $305 million over the next five years to help people get online faster outside urban centres.

The government will offer incentives to companies like HuronTel, a telecommunication company, to build the internet infrastructure in rural Ontario.

Without a proper infrastructure small towns lack the critical mass to make the investment worth it.