Broadband Internet for Remote Areas (BIRA) Grant
  • Broadband Internet for Remote Areas

    Broadband Internet for Remote Areas

    The BIRA (Broadband Internet for Remote Areas) project will assist companies to obtain broadband services currently unavailable to them, in order to remain competitive in today's marketplace.  Traditional connectivity may not be available for many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and will require the purchase or installation of additional or specialized equipment in order to achieve the minimum service level of 25mbps. Many SMEs are unable to utilize this technology because they lack the expertise or capital and it is preventing them from growing their business. 

  • Eligibility Criteria

    • Is an established, privately owned business
    • Is a registered business, and/or incorporated, in Ontario or Canada, and can provide a valid business number or corporation number.
    • Is Owned and operated by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
    • Is a for-profit business
    • Has between 1-499 full-time equivalent employees OR a minimum $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
    • Is a full-time or established seasonal businesses (such as tourism operations, construction, agriculture, fishing, and forestry)
    • Is a business located within NOHFC Northern Ontario boundaries
    • Is not a remote or home-office location in which staff are working remotely from home offices, and where primary business activities do not take place.
    • Is not a hobby and/or part-time business
    • Is not a franchise, which includes franchise businesses that are individually owned and operated.
    • Is not a Not-for-Profit organization or business owned by such organizations including charities, unions, religious groups or fraternal organizations, in which revenue is dependent on direct government funding, grants, and/or private donations.

    Eligible Costs

    • Hardware and peripherals
    • Installation charges, including travel (calculated at
    • Shipping and handling fees
    • Ongoing costs (monthly service fees) are not eligible.
    To ensure that you are eligible please consult with our staff BEFORE purchasing the equipment. All applicants must meet with a staff member to review project goals, quotes, and eligibility.
    NEOnet Inc. reserves the right to determine who is eligible or ineligible, as determined by the funding agreement with NOHFC and project goals, on a case-by-case basis.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Vendor Information

    This section is for you to provide information on the vendor you have chosen to work with on your project.  It is NOT for your business information
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
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  • NEOnet Disclosure, Consent Release, and Terms and Conditions

  • Security

    NEOnet encourages recipients to use e-business solutions that are safe and secure. The responsibility of having a safe and secure e-business solution is that of the recipient and their chosen vendor. NEOnet encourages all applicants to ask questions about security and ensure any issues or concerns have been addressed prior to work being started.Ensure that the selected vendor's proposal describes how this solution will comply with safety and security best practices and that the proposal complies with appropriate legislation.For more information on legislation guidelines please visit  http://www.priv.gc.ca

  • Terms and Conditions of Payment

    Eligible applicants may receive a reimbursement of up to 50% to a maximum of $1500. Applicants will select a vendor; NEOnet staff is available to assist you with the possible vendor in your area. You must complete a short exit survey/program evaluation for a claim to be processed. All appendixes, invoices and proof of payment is required. Once NEOnet has received all requisite documents, reviewed the final report, and the applicant has satisfied all other program requirements, we will issue reimbursement.

  • Valid proof of payments include

    The front and back of a cheque with the bank stamp clearly identified – which demonstrates that it has cleared the account, as well as a receipt from the vendor. Visa/MC/AMEX payment slips as well as a receipt from the vendor. Debit card transactions as well as a receipt from the vendor. A print version or a print screen of an online banking statement, which clearly identifies the Applicant name, business name, payments and provides an image of the cleared cheques as well as a receipt from the vendor. In addition to one of the above, where applicable, a final receipt/invoice that clearly identifies charges and payments and a zero balance, with accompanying receipts for payment transactions. Cash transactions will not be considered eligible for subsidy.
    • We (“we” refers herein to the “applicant”) hereby certify that the information shown in this application is a complete and true declaration.
    • We confirm that if any statement we have made herein or in accompanying materials proves to be incorrect in any way, we shall notify NEOnet immediately upon discovery.
    • We understand that NEOnet may request additional information in support of this application, and that information may need to be received before further consideration can be given to his application.
    • We authorize NEOnet to retain this application and any related reports for NEOnet records and reporting to Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) who oversee the program. We acknowledge that, as the operation of NEOnet is financially supported by the Government of Canada, representatives of NOHFC are permitted access to the files of NEOnet for monitoring and evaluation purposes and that we may be contacted, as the Applicant, by representatives of NOHFC and that, such information as is required by the Ministry will be treated in accordance with the Ministry’s privacy policy.
    • We consent to NEOnet collecting, using, retaining and disclosing the information contained in this application for the limited purpose of determining eligibility for financial assistance of this program, and as is required by law, and by NOHFC. We understand that NEOnet will handle our personal information in strict confidence in accordance with Federal Privacy laws.
    • We understand that the terms and conditions of any financial contribution which may be authorized will be set forth in an approval letter, of which we must be in agreement with and accept.
    • We acknowledge that we are solely responsible for the success or failure of our project and that any information, which is provided to us, as the applicant, by representatives of NEOnet, is for our understanding only. It is our responsibility, as the applicant, to verify the accuracy of such information or to seek additional information concerning any aspects of our proposed project.
    • We further agree to hold NEOnet harmless and hereby release and discharge NEOnet from any actions, damages, claims or demands which may arise, directly or indirectly, as result of any act or omission by NEOnet in providing information to the Applicant, and to indemnify NEOnet from any such actions, damages, claims or demands which might be suffered by the Applicant in connection with any such information.
    • We agree that upon submission of this application, the information presented in this application is complete and correct. 
    • We further understand and consent to NEOnet publicizing our project, if we are successful in obtaining a financial contribution from NEOnet, which may or may not include personal information such as the name of the Applicant.

  • You will receive an email notice confirming that we have successfully received your application. Please review the information contained within the confirmation email.
    Contact us as soon as possible if you require any changes to this information, or if you have any questions regarding the program application process.

    NEOnet | http://www.neonet.on.ca
    Phone: 705.360.1353 | Fax: 705.360.8537
    projects@neonet.on.ca

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