Other Federal and Provincial Programs
Please be aware that these programs may change and applicants should check with the respective programs directly to ensure they have the most current information.
Provincial programs
Alberta
The Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program consists of $9 million in new funding to targeted rural communities for projects that enable access to reasonable high-speed broadband service. This funding is part of a Government of Alberta Community Adaptation and Transition Initiative to help economically vulnerable rural communities adapt by investing in economic development and diversification initiatives.
The Rural Connections program in Alberta is funded through the Government of Canada's Community Development Trust Fund, so any complementary funding from this program could not exceed the 50 percent federal funding limit.
British Columbia
The Connecting Citizens Grant Program is a multi-year grant program. It helps pay for infrastructure to deliver Internet connectivity to homes and businesses in rural and remote areas of British Columbia National service providers are excluded from the program. Program is issuing a call for applications periodically; please refer to web site for details.
Ontario
The Building Broadband in Rural and Northern Ontario program promotes strategic investments in broadband infrastructure and encourages Internet Service Providers to address broadband service gaps. The government of Ontario has committed up to $32.75 million to support projects in collaboration with Industry Canada's Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. The Building Broadband in Rural and Northern Ontario program will provide a co-investment of up to one-third of total eligible project costs to help rural and northern families and businesses increase opportunities to connect to the world through the Internet.
Québec
The Quebec Government launched a $24 million "Communautés rurales branchées" (in French only) program in March 2009 to provide funding for high-speed Internet projects that will bring in rural areas Internet services with comparable quality and costs to what is currently offered in urban centers. Eligible recipients include municipalities, MRC, non-profit organizations and First Nations band councils. The maximum funding per project is $1.5 million.
Saskatchewan
With an investment of $42.4 million from the Saskatchewan Government, SaskTel will invest $220 million in its Saskatchewan network to move toward full broadband availability. However, there will still be a number of First Nations communities without broadband access. Infrastructure to provide service to the households in these communities will be eligible for funding.
Other Federal programs
Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions
The Major Economic and Tourism Facilities program supports the economic development in regions and communities in Québec by providing funding to projects developing Broadband services in the regions.
Indian and Northern Affairs
The First Nation Infrastructure Fund is a $127 million fund to support under-connected First Nations allowing them to gain access to nearby regional broadband networks and/or nearby regional telecommunications rural broadband expansion projects. The overall program encompasses five acceptable project areas, with broadband projects as one. Regional committees have been established to ensure that all regions benefit from projects. The maximum payable per recipient will also be capped at $10 Million to ensure more communities can participate.
Infrastructure Canada
The Building Canada Fund is the federal government's flagship infrastructure program. It aims to advance national priorities important to all Canadians—a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and better communities—while addressing local and regional infrastructure needs. Any broadband component would be funded through a negotiated arrangement with the recipient province.