Many people are understandably excited about Cogeco’s new fibre service. But before everyone rushes to switch, it’s worth remembering how we got here – and who kept this region connected long before fibre was even on the horizon.
For years, Bell left much of our area with barely usable DSL and no plans to improve it.
When residents needed reliable internet, it wasn’t Cogeco or any other major provider that stepped in. It was WCCT — a small, community-driven organization that, in 2016, built a network from the ground up.
WCCT’s early network was made possible by local people who contributed time, expertise, and personal effort.
When WCCT required capital to expand, it didn’t rely on government grants or corporate subsidies. It turned to the community – and paid back every loan, with interest.
At the centre of this effort was Ross Judd of Laurentian Hills. His determination to solve his own lack of adequate internet access created a service that, ironically, he was never able to use himself.
He pushed through technical hurdles, bureaucratic obstacles, and endless frustrations so others could.
Over the years, he was supported by a committed group of volunteers whose contributions were essential to WCCT’s success.
WCCT has always operated with a community mandate. It provides free internet service to the local hospital, North Renfrew Long-Term Care, and North Renfrew Family Services.
It supports local health-care initiatives, including the DRDH “Closer to Home” campaign, and offers scholarships for Mackenzie Community School students pursuing careers in health care.
These are decisions made by WCCT’s board about how to use its organizational surplus – a not-for-profit choosing to reinvest in the community it serves.
WCCT had the plans, expertise, and commitment to build fibre, and had already installed fibre along a few properties.
However, when rural broadband funding finally arrived, its requirements aligned more naturally with the resources of large providers, leaving smaller community ISPs across Ontario unable to participate.
Cogeco received nearly $29 million in provincial and federal funding, while WCCT received none.
Under the regulatory framework for these projects, Cogeco will have exclusive use of the new network for five years, even though a significant portion of the build was supported by public funding.
Most households do not need the extreme speeds being advertised. Meanwhile, WCCT’s service has improved markedly and remains more than adequate – and more affordable – for many families.
WCCT is not perfect, but it has earned our loyalty the hard way: by stepping up when no one else would.
Del Celli
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