About the Program
The Broadband Program was an application-based program intended to make broadband service available to as many previously unserved and underserved households as possible. For the purposes of the program, broadband was defined as a minimum 1.5Mbps.
How did it work?
Industry Canada undertook an extensive mapping exercise in order to understand the extent to which Canadians remain unserved or underserved. Based on the mapping data, Geographic Service Areas (GSAs) were defined and a competitive call for applications was open from September 1, 2009 to October 23, 2009, to fund projects in the GSAs. Applicants to the program could receive up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Who was eligible to receive funding?
Eligible recipients were the private sector or consortia of companies, not-for-profit organizations, and provincial/territorial entities that build and operate broadband infrastructure.
What were the results?
A total of 84 projects were funded in five provinces and two territories, bringing broadband access to a total of 218,000 previously unserved and underserved households.
Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians was a three-year program that finished on March 31, 2012. No further broadband program is envisioned at this time.
