Although Internet Service Provider (ISP) Everus has gone into receivership, Dufferin's subscribers can rely on their connections at least until mid- October, and receiver BDO Dunwoody is optimistic there'll be a buyer to carry on after that.

Dufferin Deputy Treasurer Aimee Raves said Wednesday she had been at a meeting among Everus, the receiver and the counties of Wellington and Grey at which she learned that Everus would continue to service its existing subscribers but would be unable to "build out" into the underserviced areas of the county as had been planned.

It can, however, add new subscribers within its existing structure. "There's still room on the existing network."

Dufferin, meantime, had been approved for a second round of funding for expansion of the broadband service and had chosen Everus as the supplier, as it was the only one within budget.

Oddly, the county knew in July that Everus was facing financial difficulty, and was aware it had gone into receivership on July 31, yet awarded the Request for Proposal on Aug. 6, according to an Aug. 24 report.

Ms. Raves could not explain how a contract could have been awarded to a bankrupt company, as she was not a party to it, but did say Everus is the second largest rural wireless provider in the area. It had been chosen by Dufferin, Wellington and Grey.

She said it would have appeared that Everus could expand its existing base at less cost than a new provider. Bell Alliant was also a provider in the first phase. There was no explanation of why it was not a party to the RFP in the second round.

Ms. Raves said the receiver told Monday's meeting that a purchase of Everus is interesting to other providers because of the three counties involved. "They're hopeful (of having lineup of prospective buyers) by mid-September, and to complete negotiations by mid- October."

However, Wellington and Grey have given Everus just 45 days from July 31 to come up with funding.

It's not clear where this leaves the county for the grant. Before the provincial funding actually becomes available a final technical plan needs to be filed.

When the second round does get off the ground, the new area to be served includes parts of Mulmur, including Mansfield, Rosemont, Honeywood, Terra Nova and Violet Hill; the northern area of Melancthon; parts of Amaranth; East Luther Grand Valley in the Colbeck and Monticello area; and the western portion of East Garafraxa.

Mono Mayor Lorie Haddock is not especially pleased that her town has been left out of the mix. She said the county IT department claimed Mono had opted to go it alone, but denied such was the case.

"It's a thorn in my side." She said Mono had done all the initial studies before the county got into the first round, and had given its studies to the county but had been left out of that round as well.