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Rural Net looking to expand in Mono

January 21, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Peter Richardson

Mono Council hard a presentation from Heiner Phillipp, president of Rural Net, an internet service provider based in Flesherton.

Recently, Rural Net erected a tower in Mono, which has raised some concerns for Council and the surrounding residents, since it was done without prior consultation or development applications on land controlled by the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

Phillipp indicated that Rural Net abides by Federal government regulators who he said were the ultimate authority regarding towers and indicated he would never deal with the NEC, who are notorious for being difficult and very slow.

In the presentation he explained that the company was started to provide his own internet and today has some 2,500 subscribers.

Rural Net takes it’s bandwidth from existing fibre networks, so it offers exceptional, guaranteed speeds.

Currently the prices depend upon the cost of buying the bandwidth from existing suppliers and the company pays $4,000 per month for each tower. This is then proportioned amongst the 45 to 50 customers on a tower.

All Rural Net plans are unlimited use and speeds are guaranteed, they can provide 50/10 services, as mandated by the CRTC and there are no contracts or fees for basic installation. Customers may cancel without penalty.

A typical tower uses only Carrier Grade equipment, are fabricated in Canada, and average only 45 clients per tower. The towers are generally only 96 feet tall. As of today the company has 32,000Mbps Fibre Internet Capacity, with 1000Mbps to be added in 2022.They also attach towers to existing silos when available.

Rural net emphasized that they will invest $400,000 to $600,000 in infrastructure in Mono in 2022 and connect 250 to 400 currently unserved customers. They will design their service to be provided in difficult to serve areas and provide the Town with free internet at rural sites, where they are permitted to install infrastructure.

All they require from the Town is concurrence with tower applications, regardless of what prominent resident complains. There are always complainers. Rural Net asked for the political will to defy tower and communication signal critics.

Rural Net is being granted access to municipal sites that are geographically viable to install infrastructure, with no fees or application processes as they follow Industry Canada CPC2-0-03 rules.

As for the NEC, they have already stepped aside and Rural Net will continue to consult with them on Tower placements. They have no jurisdictional powers over towers.

Phillipp ended his presentation with the following quote from Thomas Edison, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Several members of the public have responded to the issue of the existing tower. Some of course opposed it and claimed that the NEC should be involved. However, those who have access to the provided internet service were ecstatic about it! Brian Cott, could not say enough about the customer service and the speeds provided.

He noted that implementation of fibre planned for Mono, will likely take several years to occur regardless of promises from government and this is an immediate fix for the immediate future.

Coun. Melinda Davie was the most upset by the situation, insisting that protocols and procedures had not been followed and should be addressed.

Others were less insistent and Phillipp stated several times that Rural Net would consult with Mono on all future installations and if the Town said no, Rural Net would not install the tower. This of course would likely not sit well with the residents being denied high sped service as a result.

In the end, Council passed a motion accepting the presentation from Rural Net and referring the matter to the NEC for a final verdict.

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