At the Oshawa Council meeting on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 I made the motion copied below to ensure cable was laid during the Simcoe St. Winchester Road reconstruction which is to begin this month. My motion was passed unanimously. Hopefully it will help to expedite improvements that will give Oshawa's rural community access to high speed internet service.
Whereas Oshawa Council approved Report DS-18-62 on September 24, 2018 regarding the City’s Broadband Strategy which stated:
1) The majority of Oshawa, with the exception of the rural areas, is offered private sector internet services that would achieve the CRTC service level objective; and that
2) City staff will continue to monitor the Dig Once discussion and make recommendations to current priorities where clear financial and community benefits are possible; and
3) Monitor Dig Once policies and programs of the Region of Durham and area municipalities and adopt new practices where benefit is demonstrated and continue to consult with telecom providers on City road reconstruction projects; and
Whereas on January 24, 2019 the Region announced it awarded contract D2018-054 for the reconstruction of Simcoe Street from 500 metres south of Winchester Road to 250 metres north of Winchester Road and Winchester Road from 320 metres west of Simcoe Street to 410 metres east of Simcoe Street; and
Whereas the reconstruction of Simcoe Street and Winchester Road is to commence February 2019 and be completed December 2019 and includes roadway reconstruction, additional through and right turn lanes, new curb and gutter, traffic signal reconstruction, street lighting and hydro duct banks;
Whereas high speed internet service is not available in the rural area of Oshawa north of Winchester Road and Simcoe St;
Therefore the City of Oshawa forthwith request the Region of Durham to include broadband/fibre infrastructure cable in the Simcoe Street/Winchester Rd. reconstruction project.
Whereas Oshawa Council approved Report DS-18-62 on September 24, 2018 regarding the City’s Broadband Strategy which stated:
1) The majority of Oshawa, with the exception of the rural areas, is offered private sector internet services that would achieve the CRTC service level objective; and that
2) City staff will continue to monitor the Dig Once discussion and make recommendations to current priorities where clear financial and community benefits are possible; and
3) Monitor Dig Once policies and programs of the Region of Durham and area municipalities and adopt new practices where benefit is demonstrated and continue to consult with telecom providers on City road reconstruction projects; and
Whereas on January 24, 2019 the Region announced it awarded contract D2018-054 for the reconstruction of Simcoe Street from 500 metres south of Winchester Road to 250 metres north of Winchester Road and Winchester Road from 320 metres west of Simcoe Street to 410 metres east of Simcoe Street; and
Whereas the reconstruction of Simcoe Street and Winchester Road is to commence February 2019 and be completed December 2019 and includes roadway reconstruction, additional through and right turn lanes, new curb and gutter, traffic signal reconstruction, street lighting and hydro duct banks;
Whereas high speed internet service is not available in the rural area of Oshawa north of Winchester Road and Simcoe St;
Therefore the City of Oshawa forthwith request the Region of Durham to include broadband/fibre infrastructure cable in the Simcoe Street/Winchester Rd. reconstruction project.