The ARCC Policy Committee is submitting a response to the CRTC's Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-89:
Call for comments – Broadband Fund policy review (https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/2023-89.htm).
Background:
The CRTC launched the Broadband Fund in 2018, earmarking up to $675 million over five years to build or upgrade broadband infrastructure across Canada. Since then, $226.5 million has been committed to broadband projects through the fund. In this consultation, the CRTC is calling for comments on a number of issues that have arisen since the Broadband Fund was first launched. These include:
- Modifying the overall objectives of the Broadband Fund
- Implementing an Indigenous-specific funding stream
- Increasing focus on mobile road coverage and satellite-dependent communities
- Improving the process to evaluate and select projects to fund