Ontario Grain Farmer March 2021

experience, convincing them to share capacity can be a tough sell. Issues also exist with the type of signals available — or not available — after an area is deemed to be too populated for a rural classification by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). In areas classified as rural, the CRTC allows a specific spectrum of signal frequency (3650-3700 megahertz) to be used for free. This allows providers like MPV WiFi to go through barriers such as trees, thus expanding the areas in which internet can reach. As an area transitions to urban classification, that access is removed. “Wireless is just going to reach the amount of people that need it themost,” says Cameron. INVESTMENT Currie believes broadband investments have the potential to generate an economic “bump” in rural areas both allowing more businesses to set-up shop in the county, and addressing the ever-growing needs of rural residents for modern business. Farmers need good connections in all parts of their businesses, from the barn to the tractor. Rural kids increasingly need it for school. Not having a good, affordable connection for these and other things, he says, hurts the competitiveness of all rural residents, not least the farm community. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 31 MARCH 2021 In Ontario, the government has committed a total of $995 million to the development of the province’s internet and cellular network. Get the go-to resistance management tool for soybeans. Resistance should be on your mind. Not in your fields. Visit agsolutions.ca/htsoybeans to learn more. Always read and follow label directions. AgSolutions and ENGENIA are registered trade-marks of BASF, used under license by BASF Canada Inc. © 2021 BASF Canada Inc.