CRTC announces 10 projects, $20.5M, in Broadband Fund

Approximately 3,625 households will benefit from the CRTC’s Broadband Fund, after a Wednesday announcement of 10 projects selected to receive a total of $20.5 million. “As many Canadians have adopted new ways to work, learn and live, the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed that poor Internet connections can disadvantage those who need Internet access the most. Canada’s remote communities face unique connectivity challenges,” CRTC chair Ian Scott said in the press release. Forty-six communities, 16 of which are Indigenous, will be provided with broadband internet access services or mobile wireless services that either meet the universal service objective or move communities closer to attaining it, according to the funding announcement. Some of the communities have no service of the like at all. Communities in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario will be serviced during this round of funding. Telus Corp. received a total of $10.7 million to build or upgrade local fixed access and mobile wireless infrastructure in 20 communities in British Columbia and two in Alberta. Telus applied on behalf of Telus Mobility for the projects in Alberta. It will offer fixed wireless access services with data limits ranging from 100 to 500 GB per month, with speeds of 25/10 Mbps, in the communities of South Tallcree and North Tallcree, Alberta, covering 12 km of road. TG Arrow Technology Group Limited Partnership received approval for a $7.2 million project to build local fixed access infrastructure in Goodfish Lake, Alta. “In selecting the project for funding, the commission applied the social consideration that the project will benefit an Indigenous community,” the CRTC wrote in its decision. “In providing broadband internet access services with speeds of up to 100/50 Mbps and an unlimited data allowance, the project is consistent with the universal service objective and will have a significant positive impact on the community to be served, which encompasses approximately 295 households.” BCE Inc. meanwhile was approved for 19 community projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, two in New Brunswick and one in Ontario, totalling $1.5 million. Rogers Communications Inc. got the least, with $964,024 approved to build or upgrade local fixed access infrastructure in Storeytown, N.B. Rogers will provide 460 households with speeds of up to 1,000/30 Mbps and an unlimited data allowance, according to the CRTC release. To date, the fund has spent a collective $177 million for 153 communities, approximately 28,125 households.

CRTC announces 10 projects, $20.5M, in Broadband Fund

Brief | August 4, 2021

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CRTC announces 10 projects, $20.5M, in Broadband Fund

Brief | August 4, 2021

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