so many years have gone by since the ROF was discovered and most likely some information has been forgotten.

November 19, 2011, this was announced.

https://news.ontario.ca/mndmf/en/2010/11/new-fibre-optics-network-for-nishanabe-aski-nation.html

$81-million in joint funding for the Northwestern Ontario Broadband Expansion Initiative.

 The 26 First Nation communities that will benefit from the new service are Deer Lake, Kasabonika Lake, Kee-Way-Win, Kingfisher Lake, Neskantaga First Nation (Lansdowne House), North Caribou Lake (Weagamow), Sachigo Lake, Cat Lake, Marten Falls (Ogoki Post), Nibinamik First Nation, Mishkeegogamang, North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill, Sandy Lake, Slate Falls, Wunnumin, Webequie, Wawakapewin, Wapekeka , Pikangikum, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Muskrat Dam, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Fort Hope (Eabametoong), Koocheching, Bearskin Lake.

http://www.matawa.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/21-03-2016-MR-Matawa-FNs-Demand-Full-Support-for-Broadband-Connectivity.pdf

In 2010, $81 million in funding was announced by Canada and Ontario to bring a state-of-the-art backbone fibre optic network to 26 First Nations communities in Nishnawbe Aski Nation who partnered with Bell Alliant. This initiative, called the Northwestern Ontario Broadband Expansion Initiative (NOBEI), originally planned to include Nibinamik, Webequie, Neskantaga, Eabametoong and Marten Falls First Nations—the 5 remote Matawa First Nations directly within the area known as the Ring of Fire. Then, in 2013, they were informed that the NOBEI had gone over budget due to issues in the construction of the 21 Non-Matawa First Nations leaving them without funding or a plan for broadband connection. 

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When you watch the Bell Alliant video below, you'll see some strange stuff. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTOb_a3o7QA

According to this video

it began with a plan to connect 22 reserves. Really? I thought it began with a plan to connect 26 reserves?

And according to the video ..after the plan ..a partnership was formed..??Huh?

According to the joint funding announcement the plan was 26 reserves from the start which included the reserves near the ROF.

Look how much work was involved to install this specialized armoured fiber optic cable when you watch the youtube video . And just look at the equipment involved. Imagine the cost of getting the equipment there... the use of helicopers etc. 

And then in 2013...coincidentally when Cliffs said they would stop work... due to issues with FN AND GOVT..the funding ran out to provide broadband to the 5 ROF reserves

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/cliffs-natural-resources-to-halt-ring-of-fire-development/article15539036/

"The Cleveland-based company already suspended its environmental assessment because it was waiting for the province and the First Nations to reach an agreement on how to develop the deposit, most of which is not accessible by road.

The company said it will stop work by the end of the year and close its offices in Thunder Bay and Toronto as well as its exploration camp site."

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Let's think about this for a minute..

81 million dollars was spent...putting in broadband connection for 22 reserves 

It was 2000km of fiber (81 million divided by 2000km equals $40,500 per km.

But the project was for installation for 26 reserves but it went over budget and somehow ..um...err... it's these FIVE reserves coincidentally closet to the ROF.... which were affected and didn't get broadband..

And coincidentally, cliffs walked away from the ROF project at that time that the project went over budget and affected these reserves.

But...good news on the way now because there is money now funding to do this...and it is a whooping 69.2 million dollars for ...800km of fiber ...(a price of $86,500 per km)

Oh....and this time the News Release from gov't actually has a date unlike the one back in 2017..

This time the broadband release had.."Construction is anticipated to begin this winter"

 I see snow outside today. Is this the start of winter?

Since taxpayers are almost paying the same price to connect 5 reserves as compared to the 22 reserves previously done...I assume the wait was for a ....reason