UBF should focus on both backbone, last mile, ISPs told ISED

At a discussion about Ottawa’s now-delayed Universal Broadband Fund with stakeholders in January, the federal government heard it shouldn’t require funding from other levels of government and focus on both backbone and last-mile projects, according to documents obtained through access to information. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) officials held a roundtable discussion with stakeholders including large internet providers and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on Jan. 7. The government initially planned to launch the program — announced as part of $1.7 billion in funding for rural broadband in the last federal budget — this spring. While Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef said in late April the government would “accelerate” rural broadband initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then promised in early June the UBF would open for applications within “days,” the program still hasn’t launched. Briefing notes prepared for Monsef earlier this year following those ISED roundtables indicated that the large providers all called for the UBF to fund last-mile connections as well as backbone projects. Both BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. were “in agreement with the majority of the large ISPs in their view that the UBF should maintain a flexible approach and be able to fund both last-mile and backbone projects, as last-mile funding is needed to support the business case in rural areas,” the briefing notes outline. The government’s current rural broadband program, the $585-million Connect to Innovate, was largely focused on backbone connections. Shaw Communications Inc. told ISED that “backbone remains important.” In the January meeting, the company also pointed out it can be complicated and time-consuming to connect indigenous communities, “particularly in British Columbia with few modern treaties and mostly unceded territory.” The company also said, according to a briefing note, that the UBF shouldn’t require projects to also obtain co-funding from provincial governments, since not all provinces have broadband programs. Xplornet Communications Inc. agreed that applicants shouldn’t have to show support from provinces or municipalities to be eligible under the UBF. “In particular, Xplornet noted that securing support from multiple communities adds to the complexity of developing an application,” the briefing note said. ISED also met with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities on Jan. 7, followed up by four webinars with FCM member associations, another briefing note outlined. The document noted the municipal associations also said both backbone and last-mine connections were needed, and that “mobile eligibility should also be considered essential.” “Every municipal association highlighted the importance of connectivity for public safety and economic development,” the briefing note said. “Their comments have focused on the need for flexibility, coordination between sources of funding, and streamlining the application process for municipalities.” In a Jan. 19 webinar, the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) said the UBF should encourage partnerships with municipalities. “They highlighted some areas where municipalities may require more program support, including ensuring program or partner funding is available for project feasibility studies, and having a longer or more flexible program application process,” a briefing note said. — With reporting by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

UBF should focus on both backbone, last mile, ISPs told ISED

News | July 28, 2020

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UBF should focus on both backbone, last mile, ISPs told ISED

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