Rural Communities/Two Community Access Program Competitions

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Rural Communities Get On-Line Faster with Two Community Access Program Competitions

Date: 1999/03/02

OTTAWA, March 2, 1999 -- John Manley, Minister of Industry, today announced that the Community Access Program (CAP) will now have two competitions each year, so that Canada's rural and remote communities can connect faster to the Information Highway.

Beginning in April 1999, CAP will have two deadlines - April 30 and October 31. Federal funds of up to $40,000 over three years are available on a matching basis to successful community-based applicants.

"CAP's goal is to help all 5,000 rural and remote communities establish affordable public sites for access to the Internet by March 31, 2001," said Minister Manley. "To date, we have helped connect some 4,000 rural community sites, and in order to finish the job faster, we are introducing a second competition."

Industry Canada has concluded cost-sharing agreements with the Governments of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon for the joint implementation of CAP. Under these agreements, deadlines for proposals can vary in timing and frequency. Applicants from these areas should seek further information from CAP, as outlined below.

Through CAP, the federal government aims to connect up to 10,000 remote, rural and urban communities by the end of fiscal year 2000. The program is a key component of the Connecting Canadians Strategy, which aims to make Canada the world's most connected nation and helps create jobs, growth and other benefits associated with the development of information technology. CAP is also integral to the federal Youth Employment Strategy. CAP sites facilitate job opportunities and skills development for young Canadians aged 15 - 30. This year, over 1,000 young Canadians can take advantage of work experience opportunities provided by CAP.

For more information, please contact:

Community Access Program
1-800-268-6608
E-mail
Web Site

-- Eleanor Szabo (mailto:szabo.eleanor@ic.gc.ca), March 02, 1999

Answers

The deadline for applications has now been extended to May.31 to give an opportunity for rural and remote communities to participate in connecting up to the internet. Please let your hick cousins know they now have a chance to find all that smut you've been whispering about at the family gatherings without buying expensive skin mags.

-- Gary Allan Halonen (njarc@ica.net), April 29, 1999.

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