Prince to plug into fibre optic internet service – finally

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Mayor Enzo Palumbo had a hearty thank you for councillors when they voted to support an agreement between Bell Canada and the provincial government to make all-fibre high-speed internet access available throughout Prince Township. 

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The completion date for Bell’s project is December 2025; however, Palumbo told council his personal campaign for fibre optic internet service began almost a decade ago. 

“When I originally ran for council… one of my first calls was to lobby (Bell) for fibre optic to be brought into Prince Township,” Palumbo said. 

“Over eight years, there was a local gentleman and a gentleman out of Barrie, Ontario, that I constantly called and lobbied, lobbied, lobbied.  When they made the call to me that they were moving forward, I was ecstatic.” 

Palumbo said further that when he ran for mayor in 2022 after serving two consecutive council terms, he learned that most residents shared his vision of a rural community with the same fast, dependable internet service that city dwellers enjoyed. 

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“I literally knocked on every door in Prince Township.  It was number two on the list of what residents wanted to see, so it’s huge…    

“The great news behind this is that Bell is putting in all areas of Prince Township and the surrounding area. That includes Prince Lake,” Palumbo said. 

“I know there are other avenues in use for high-speed internet, but having fibre optic brought to our community is bringing us up to par not only with the rest of Ontario, but with Canada,” he said. 

Before the internet upgrade can take place, the aging PUC poles in Prince will have to be replaced with new ones that can support the fibre optic cables. 

Earlier at the meeting, Ray Battista, the chief financial officer of Sault Ste. Marie PUC, confirmed that the pole replacement project will begin this year and be completed in 2025. 

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When Palumbo sought individual councillors’ comments on the internet venture, the responses he got were optimistic, but cautious. 

“I’m actually happy to hear that (Bell) has been in touch with PUC to start the construction,” said Coun. Melanie Mageran.  I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds.” 

But Coun. Eugene Caputo wanted to know whether the cost of fibre optic internet service would be affordable for residents who thought their current monthly bills were too high. 

“I’ve been waiting 11 years, and been paying top rates for that long,” Caputo said.  

“What’s it going to cost me to have this at my house?” 

Coun. Margaret Christenson offered no comment.  Coun. Jane Weir was away from the township and could not attend the meeting. 

Palumbo said more information on Bell’s fibre optic internet service would be mailed to residents with their tax bills. 

The Ontario government also has an online interactive map of areas where high-speed internet and cellular projects are being developed with provincial assistance.  Residents may track the progress of local projects by visiting https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-connects-making-high-speed-internet-accessible-in-every-community 

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