Lake of Bays Public Library - Baysville Branch
10 University St, Baysville, ON P0B 1A0 
Phone: 705-767-2361

Lake of Bays Public Library - Dwight Branch
1014 Dwight Beach Rd, Dwight, ON P0A 1H0 
Phone: 705-635-3319

Township of Lake of Bays Municipal Office
1012 Dwight Beach Rd, Dwight, ON P0A 1H0
Phone: 1-877-566-0005

The Federal Government hosts a database of known service providers by geographic region.  Enter your address to find out who serves your area.

The following is a list of known Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that offer services to residents and businesses in or adjacent to the Township of Lake of Bays. Please contact the ISPs directly to confirm if service is available at your location.

Tip for connecting: Try multiple address variations (i.e. Hwy 60/Highway 60, Dwight/Huntsville/Lake of Bays, etc.)

Internet and Connectivity are terms used extensively throughout our webpage and content.

INTERNET is simply the product individuals want to subscribe to and use while CONNECTIVITY refers to the way people are hooked up to the Internet, and may include dial-up telephone lines, cable, always-on broadband connections, Satellite, Hotspots and Wireless.

We would like to highlight some differences in the latter – CONNECTIVITY – for your awareness.  Internet connection options vary by Internet Service Provider (ISP) and by region. Customers should consider some of the following factors before selecting an Internet package: speed or bandwidth, cost, availability, reliability and convenience. In order to determine what Internet plan is right for you, we recommend you review the different types of Internet connections available on the market today.

Understanding The Differences Between Internet Connections
When determining which type of Internet connection is right for you or your family, it's important to understand the distinction between each connection. In today's age, there are numerous ways to connect laptops, desktops, mobile phones, gaming consoles, e-readers and tablets to the Internet. Some of the most widely used Internet connections are described below.

WIRELESS

Radio frequency bands are used in place of telephone or cable networks. One of the greatest advantages of wireless Internet connections is the "always-on" connection that can be accessed from any location that falls within network coverage. Wireless connections are made possible through the use of a modem, which picks up Internet signals and sends them to other devices.

MOBILE

Many cell phone and smartphone providers offer voice plans with Internet access. Mobile Internet connections provide good speeds and allow you to access the Internet.

HOTSPOTS

Hotspots are sites that offer Internet access over a wireless local area network (WLAN) by way of a router that then connects to an Internet service provider. Hotspots utilize Wi-Fi technology, which allows electronic devices to connect to the Internet or exchange data wirelessly through radio waves. Hotspots can be phone-based or free-standing, commercial or free to the public.

DIAL-UP 

Dial-up connections require users to link their phone line to a computer in order to access the Internet. This particular type of connection—also referred to as analog—does not permit users to make or receive phone calls through their home phone service while using the Internet.

BROADBAND

This high-speed Internet connection is provided through either cable or telephone companies. One of the fastest options available, broadband Internet uses multiple data channels to send large quantities of information. The term broadband is shorthand for broad bandwidth. Broadband Internet connections such as DSL and cable are considered high-bandwidth connections. Although many DSL connections can be considered broadband, not all broadband connections are DSL.

DSL

DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses existing 2-wire copper telephone line connected to one's home so service is delivered at the same time as landline telephone service. Customers can still place calls while surfing the Internet.

CABLE

Cable Internet connection is a form of broadband access. Through use of a cable modem, users can access the Internet over cable TV lines. Cable modems can provide extremely fast access to the Internet.

SATELLITE

In certain areas where broadband connection is not yet offered, a satellite Internet option may be available. Similar to wireless access, satellite connection utilizes a modem.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

ISDN allows users to send data, voice and video content over digital telephone lines or standard telephone wires. The installation of an ISDN adapter is required at both ends of the transmission—on the part of the user as well as the Internet access provider.

There are quite a few other Internet connection options available, including T-1 lines, T-3 lines, OC (Optical Carrier) and other DSL technologies.

As you decide what Internet connection is the best fit for your needs, you may wish to narrow down your selection based on your preferred download and upload speeds, or based on deals and pricing options through an Internet Service Provider.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An ISP is a company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. In addition to providing access to the Internet, ISPs may also provide software packages (such as browsers), e-mail accounts, and a personal Web site or home page.

Lake of Bays Council has identified improving access to affordable, high-speed, broadband Internet for residents and businesses in Lake of Bays as a priority in both the Strategic Work Plan and COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Business Support Plan.

Staff Reports to Council related to Internet Connectivity

Broadband Programs, August 19, 2020

Broadband Internet Connectivity - Identification as a Regional Priority, October 20, 2020

The Town of Bracebridge, the Town of Huntsville, the Town of Gravenhurst, the Township of Georgian Bay, the Township of Lake of Bays, the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and the District Municipality of Muskoka, are collectively supporting regional efforts to enhance broadband service across Muskoka.

Delegations

On behalf of the District of Muskoka Chair and Mayors, Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover has presented two delegations to the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure: 

• Enable Muskoka to prepare for broadband expansion through funding of a Gap Analysis and Regional Broadband Strategy, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), 2020
• Improving Broadband Connectivity in Muskoka, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), 2021 
• Supporting Muskoka in Achieving our $290 Million Project to Improve Rural Broadband Connectivity (AMO), 2021

Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force (MERTF)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, District of Muskoka Council endorsed the creation of a Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force in May 2020 to work collaboratively to minimize the effects of the pandemic on the local economy. Broadband has been identified by the Task Force as a critical focus in the recovery response and the group is pursuing the creation of a Gap Analysis and Regional Broadband Strategy for Muskoka. 

The purpose of this endeavour is:

• To take a proactive approach to creating a broadband solution in Muskoka led by the public sector to ensure that strategy prioritizes overall public benefit instead of short-term return on investment; and
• To undertake a service gap analysis and identify implementation priorities to improve broadband service delivery in Muskoka; and
• To research best practices and create an actionable implementation plan that identifies roles and responsibilities of government and ISPs; and
• To establish connectivity guidelines to ensure Muskoka is forward-thinking and future focused; and
• To create an environment of coordination and collaboration within the public and private sector, while encouraging investments in connectivity; and
• To become equipped with the required technical information and expertise to be able to pursue future funding opportunities as they arise and signal Muskoka’s intent of being “application ready” for funding support from programs offered by senior levels of government.

To learn more about the Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force (MERTF) visit the Engage Muskoka website. 

District of Muskoka

Regional Broadband Strategic Plan

On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, the Finance and Corporate Services Committee passed a motion recommending an RFP be issued to engage a consultant with expertise in broadband service expansion planning to assist the District to develop a regional plan that will address the region's unique challenges. 

• Staff Report 
• Media Release

Following the RFP process, in July 2021 the District of Muskoka contracted Clearcable Networks to develop a broadband strategy for Muskoka. 

All Updates related to regional broadband efforts are available at EngageMuskoka.ca/Broadband. 

Parry Sound Muskoka Regional Broadband Initiative

This group meets quarterly to ensure information sharing and alignment across the region. It includes broad representation from across Parry Sound and Muskoka with each community having a representative at the CAO/Mayor (or designate) level.  

Improving access to affordable, high-speed Internet for residents and businesses in Lake of Bays is identified as a priority in the Township's Economic Development Strategy and Strategic Work Plan (2019-2022). These strategies establish initiatives to foster collaboration between the public and private sector (ISPs) and advocate to address gaps and improve service delivery.

To be informed of any new information related to service expansion initiatives, please subscribe below to receive email updates.

• Ontario Internet Access Map (OIAM)
• Province announces investment in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network Telesat
• Federal Government investments through the Universal Broadband Fund 
• Ontario connects: bringing high-speed internet to every community 
• Elon Musk's satellite internet plan gets green light from Canadian regulator
• The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) puts its support behind satellite internet service
• Internet service in Cottage Country information from the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association