Internet Plan
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Page 1 of 8 Staff Report #AD-18-21 Meeting: Committee of the Whole - 07 Jun 2021 Staff Contact: Ashley Watson, John Pinsent, Subject: Internet Plan Suggested Motion THAT Council receives report AD-18-21; AND THAT Council approves the Internet Plan and all costing in report AD-18-21. Background & Discussion Background Broadband is a multi-dimensional communications medium that transmits large amounts of data very quickly through fibre optic, coaxial cable, DSL, satellite or even through cellular service. In 2016, the Canadian Radio- television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), who regulates the telecommunications industry, declared that broadband is a vital and basic service and established a universal service objective that Canadians have access to broad internet services (minimum 50Mpbs download and 10 Mpbs upload speeds). In Ramara, few areas have access to high-speed broadband as shown through the Internet Performance Map that can be found at https://performance.cira.ca/ramara. A total of 1,209 tests have been completed in Ramara and found that residents in Ramara are receiving less than 25 Mpbs internet speeds with many people falling in the under 5 Mbps range. One of Council’s priorities is to enhance internet services (both broadband and wireless) to residents and businesses as the pandemic has accelerated our online presence in the way we work, learn and play at home. As a result, the Township plans to invest in broadband in order to keep up with the growing demand for fast, affordable service and constant connectivity. Discussion What do we know? In Ramara, we know that approximately 1500 households in the Bayshore Village, Lagoon City and other smaller settlement areas have access to high speed broadband services. On December 11, 2020, Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT), announced that it awarded $41.1M in funding support to expand broadband services to 12,700 households and business in Simcoe County. In Ramara, the new fibre-to-home projects will affect households who live in the following areas: Uptergrove, Joyland Beach, Orkney Beach, Fawn Bay and Longford Mills. This will then provide 50/10 broadband services to approximately 1000-1500 households by mid 2022. On March 26th, the Negotiated Request for Proposal (NRFP) was distributed to various ISPs, posted on the Township's website and posted on a third party tender/bid hosting website (Biddingo). The tender closed on Tuesday, April 13th at 12:00 p.m. In the NRFP, the Township identified six gap areas based on responses from residents and through the CIRA performance tests. The six gap areas area the following areas: Page 2 of 8 Internet Plan Service Gap Area Location Approximate Households Service Gap A North Ramara (Fairgrounds Road 230 Service Gap B North of Longford Mills 50 Service Gap C Margaret Orr Area 29 Service Gap D Dalrymple Drive Area 55 Southeast of Bayshore Drive Service Gap E 200+ (Amilia and Glenrest Drive area) South of Lagoon City and South Service Gap F 200+ Ramara area Total 764 + Page 3 of 8 Internet Plan Ramara’s Action and Progress Service Gap Area A Service Gap Area A represents approximately 230 households in the North Ramara area. This includes, but not exhaustive of the following roads: Fairgrouds Road, Cronk Sideroad, McArthur Sideroad, Concession Road M/N, Coopers Falls Road, Brooks Sideroad, Concession Road H-I and some other roads in the area. Short-Term Solution As this area in receiving little to no internet connection, the Township intends to invest in a short-term solution. The project timeline for this work is expected to start as soon as possible and end in the fall of 2021. Through the NRFP process, Muskoka Wifi provided a proposal for Service Gap A that would require the installation of two 120’ Towers that would then provide up to 50/10 services to residents in this area. Residents in this area then would pay for packages based on the internet services they require. Internet Speed Internet Package Price (Download/Upload) 10 Mpbs (10/5) $41.49 25 Mbps (25/10) $51.99 50 Mbps (50/25) $73.49 150 Mbps (150/50) $117.75 *Note that these speeds are referred to as a maximum speed and may vary based on service location, administration, tax and additional equipment. Rental fees will apply. Financial Implication The cost for implementing this wireless solution will be $106,406.21. The Township of Ramara will subsidize up to $100,000 of Muskoka Wifi’s initial investment through a grant (loan amount to be converted to grant) that will be repaid based on service standards and numbers of households being connected. Long-Term Solution This area was identified by Bell in one of their applications to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for Universal Broadband Funding (UBF) to support Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) to homes in this area. The FTTP project would provide 50/10 connection to residents in the following areas: County Road 169 between Fairgrounds Road to Line 5, area around Fairgrounds road and Coopers Falls Road and areas to the north that is beyond Ramara’s municipal boundary. Bell applied for UBF funding mid March 2021, and we anticipate knowing the results of this application later in 2021. If this project goes forward, residents in the area would expect to have FTTP services which would allow households, businesses and community institutions to keep pace with changing technology and fully participate in the digital economy. Financial Implication At this time, Ramara does not know if there would be any financial implication. Service Gap Area B Service Gap Area B represents approximately 50 homes in the area north of Longford Mills. This area includes the following roads: Rama Road, Quarry Point Road and Maple Ave. Page 4 of 8 Internet Plan Long-Term Solution The Township will invest with Rogers and Ruralwave to bring Fibre-to-the-home to 50 households in this area. This will provide 50/10 Mpbs broadband services to residents. This area includes, but not exhaustive of the following roads: Rama Road, Quarry Point Road and Maple Ave Residents in this area then would pay for packages based on the internet services they require. Please note that the prices below is just for residential and business prices are available but not included in the report. Fibre/Fixed Plans Download Speed Upload Speed Price Per Month Wireless Residential Plans FibreNet 1GIG Fibre 1 Gb/s 250 Mb/s $225 FibreNet 500 Fibre 500 Mb/s 350 Mb/s $185 FibreNet 250 Fibre 250 Mb/s 150 Mb/s $150 FibreNet 100 Fibre 100 Mb/s 50 Mb/s $125 FibreNet 50 Fibre 50 Mb/s 25 Mb/s $ 95 Power Plan 100 Fixed Wireless 100 Mb/s 50 Mb/s $180 Power Plan 50 Fixed Wireless 50 Mb/s 10 Mb/s $140 Financial Implication The cost for implementing services to Service Gap B will be identified at the end of this report. Service Gap Area C and D Service Gap Area C and D represents approximately 84 homes in the Margaret Orr and Dalrymple Drive area. Short-Term Solution The Township will invest with Rogers and Ruralwave to build or attach to structures in this area towerds around 33-45 m in height to provide Fixed Wireless coverage. The network of two new sites will connect to Rogers optical backbone via an existing Ruralwave Fixed Wireless site in Udney and Uptergrove. This will provide coverage, not exhaustive to, 84 homes in the Margaret Orr and Dalrymple Drive area. Residents in this area then would pay for packages based on the internet services they require. Please note that the prices below is just for residential and business prices are available but not included in the report. Fibre/Fixed Plans Download Speed Upload Speed Price Per Month Wireless Residential Plans Power Plan 100 Fixed Wireless 100 Mb/s 50 Mb/s $180 Power Plan 50 Fixed Wireless 50 Mb/s 10 Mb/s $140 Long-Term Solution As both the Federal and Provincial government invest in broadband services to residents, Ramara will look at expanding Fibre in order to provide Fibre-to-the-home or Fibre-to-the-Premises technology for these areas. As no new broadband programs have been announced, this will be in a future application. Financial Implication Page 5 of 8 Internet Plan The cost for implementing services to Service Gap C and D will be identified at the end of this report. Service Gap Area E Service Gap Area E represents 200 homes in the south-east area of Bayshore Village. This includes the following roads: Glenrest Drive and Amilia Drive area. Long-Term Solution Rogers and Ruralwave are proposing to build Fibre-to-the-home technology that would provide residents in the area 50/10 Mbps broadband services. Rogers and Ruralwave are proposing to build from the existing optical fibre from Highway 12 to the Gap Area E connecting fibre to the home for all 200+ households. Residents in this area then would pay for packages based on the internet services they require. Please note that the prices below is just for residential and business prices are available but not included in the report. Fibre/Fixed Plans Download Speed Upload Speed Price Per Month Wireless Residential Plans FibreNet 1GIG Fibre 1 Gb/s 250 Mb/s $225 FibreNet 500 Fibre 500 Mb/s 350 Mb/s $185 FibreNet 250 Fibre 250 Mb/s 150 Mb/s $150 FibreNet 100 Fibre 100 Mb/s 50 Mb/s $125 FibreNet 50 Fibre 50 Mb/s 25 Mb/s $ 95 Power Plan 100 Fixed Wireless 100 Mb/s 50 Mb/s $180 Power Plan 50 Fixed Wireless 50 Mb/s 10 Mb/s $140 Financial Implication The cost for implementing services to Service Gap E will be identified at the end of this report.