The Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus is calling on the federal and provincial governments to help fund rural broadband in southwestern Ontario, a project that is estimated to cost $1 billion dollars.
The caucus chair and warden for Huron County, Jim Ginn, said the caucus is calling for both levels of government to directly fund the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology initiative -- or SWIFT.
They are asking for $254 million from the federal government and $221 million from the province.
"That will only get us to the 95 per cent that the CRTC has mandated for the year 2025," said Ginn.
SWIFT is made up of 15 counties as well as five municipal capital contributing members.
On Tuesday, the Wardens' Caucus began an advocacy campaign aimed at drumming up support for the funding.
"We'll be in touch with various government committees and ministers in order to lobby on behalf of the 15 counties for the funding," Ginn said.
They will be meeting with provincial ministers next month to raise the issue during the virtual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.