FINAL 2009 Annual Report
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NEOnet 2009 Annual Report Infrastructure Enhancement Application Education and Awareness 2009 Annual Report Table of Contents Message from the Chair ..............................................................................................2 Corporate Profile........................................................................................................3 Mandate ....................................................................................................................3 Regional Profile ..........................................................................................................4 Catchment Area.......................................................................................................................................................5 NEOnet Team .............................................................................................................6 Organizational Chart..............................................................................................................................................6 Core Staff Members...............................................................................................................................................7 Leaving staff members..........................................................................................................................................8 Board of Directors ..................................................................................................................................................9 Projects ....................................................................................................................10 SIRA Program 2005 – 2009...............................................................................................................................10 Timiskaming and Gogama-Foleyet Area Broadband ProJect................................................................11 First Nations Broadband ProJect.....................................................................................................................13 2009 ICT Connectivity Survey ..........................................................................................................................14 Cellular Expansion Project ................................................................................................................................15 Wireless Hotspots ProJect.................................................................................................................................17 Gap Analysis...........................................................................................................................................................18 ICT Education & Awareness ......................................................................................19 Vision for 2010 and beyond......................................................................................20 Infrastructure Enhancement............................................................................................................................20 ICT Applications....................................................................................................................................................20 ICT Education & Awareness .............................................................................................................................20 2010 and beyond Project Plan ..................................................................................21 NEOnet Members.....................................................................................................23 NEOnet Partners.......................................................................................................24 2009 Auditor’s Report and Financials............................................................................ 1 2009 Annual Report Message from the Chair 2009 proved to be a successful year as NEOnet worked diligently to move information and communications technology (ICT) projects forward and gain support for new initiatives. By the end of the year, as a result of Ontera’s leadership, the Timiskaming and Gogama-Foleyet Area Broadband Project had begun serving many of the 18 participating communities. Once the project is complete NEOnet will have empowered 40 communities that would have otherwise remained unserved, with reliable access to high-speed Internet. The Satellite for Remove Areas Program (SIRA), which ended in September, was able to help 817 businesses in Northern Ontario access high-speed satellite Internet. NEOnet’s Wireless Hotspots Project received support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), in the spring and has already installed 15 access points throughout the region. The Cellular Expansion Project with NOHFC, NorthernTel and Ontera has continued to make headway. The tower in Moosonee has been completed and the remaining 9 towers are scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. NEOnet celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year. The organization was established in 1999 by a group of community development-minded leaders and organizations as a not-for-profit telecommunications development organization for Northeastern Ontario. A digital divide existed between Northern and Southern Ontario, NEOnet was established to close this gap. Over the past 10 years NEOnet with the support of FedNor, NOHFC and other public and private sector partners, have done exactly that and exceeded the initial expectations for the organization. As a result the ICT environment in Northeastern Ontario has dramatically improved. Since inception NEOnet has secured, leveraged or stimulated over $110,000,000 in ICT investment in Northeastern Ontario. These are contributions from the provincial and federal funding agencies and the private sector who have invested in over 30 NEOnet projects. This is also accounted for through capital dollars that the private sector telecommunications companies have spent building and upgrading networks and on equipment to support additional demand generated as a result of these projects. These projects have directly helped increase business opportunities as telecommunications technology opens the door to opportunities; customer market expands, company profile and visibility increases and location barriers are removed. It is NEOnet’s desire and intention to continue as the ICT champion for Northeastern Ontario, not just in 2010, but well beyond. NEOnet has developed a strong set of deliverables that the organization is committed to achieving over the next few years to ensure the continued advancement of ICT and encourage economic and community development throughout the region. The organization has numerous projects on the go, some of which are in the implementation phase and others that are in the development phase. NEOnet is proud of all that was accomplished in 2009 and would like to recognize all those individuals, organizations and businesses that were involved. On behalf of the Board and Staff, as well as the thousands of residents of Northeastern Ontario I would like to thank you for the continued support. Sincerely, Michel Desjardins 2 2009 Annual Report Corporate Profile North Eastern Ontario Communications Network Inc. (NEOnet) is a not-for-profit telecommunications organization that works with the public and private sectors on projects and initiatives that will improve available information and communications technology (ICT) access throughout the region. NEOnet is a nationally recognized model organization that has been the regional ICT leader for the past 10 years. The organization was founded on the premise that ICT business cases are most sustainable when they are founded on market-driven principles, even if public sector support is necessary to offset capital expenditures. Given the geographical make- up of Northeastern Ontario an ICT champion such as NEOnet is vital to ensure the residents of the area have the same access to readily available services in other regions across the country. The organization's strengths include: a positive reputation and relationship with the public, stakeholders, private sector and funding agencies; a comprehensive understanding of the current ICT environment and sector; dynamic and dedicated board members who act as a valuable resource and offer continuous support; project management expertise; strong regional perspective and partners; and a passionate and innovative staff. Over the past 10 years NEOnet has surpassed expectations and assisted in dramatically improving the ICT environment and significantly reducing the digital divide between Northern and Southern Ontario. An organization such as NEOnet is key for the continued development of communication technologies throughout the region. Adoption and application of the more readily available ICT services requires knowledge that many residents in Northeastern Ontario do not yet have. Residents and small businesses need and rely on an organization like NEOnet. Mandate Infrastructure Education & Application Awareness NEOnet has a mandate to promote and develop the three pillars of the ICT sector: Infrastructure Enhancement, Education and Awareness, and Application. In more detail the mandate of the organization is to facilitate private and public sector partnerships that will result in improved telecommunications infrastructure and ICT-related services in the region; to increase awareness and adoption of technology, therefore increasing demand