Huron County-based Hay Communications will not be part of the SWIFT project to bring broadband service to all of Southwestern Ontario.
General Manager Angela Lawrence, along with representatives from Tuckersmith Communications and Hurontel, walked out of the Huron County chambers at the September 13 council meeting without speaking to the media after county council voted in favour of joining the SWIFT project.
Most of the councillors acknowledged that the SWIFT program would not not deliver the "last mile" service to the most remote homes, but also felt that if there was going to be a network through Southwestern Ontario, Huron County should be part of it.
They voted to join SWIFT, but also hoped the three local providers would continue to work on the last mile.
Lawrence says Hay Communications is committed to continuing to work with the county on the last mile, but she won't work with the SWIFT project.
She adds they have already submitted an application to the Connect To Innovative Program and they're optimistic that will be supported by the federal government.
