By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The House infrastructure committee is recommending the government acknowledge the role the public sector plays in delivering high-speed internet to rural and remote communities and is urging it to support small municipalities in getting funding from federal funding programs.
The report, which was presented to the House on Monday, includes recommendations to the government to “acknowledge the necessary role for the public sector in delivering high-speed internet to rural and remote communities, especially those without a sufficient business case to attract private sector providers” and to “support the institutional capacity of small municipalities and Indigenous governments when applying to broadband infrastructure programs such as the Universal Broadband Fund.”
The $2.75-billion UBF program includes a measure to help applicants with the process of applying for funds.
The report comes after a number of committee hearings on targeted infrastructure investment, with the last such meeting occurring on June 9.
“The witnesses deemed access to broadband internet in many Canadian communities an infrastructure priority,” the report said.
“Although every order of government seems to have understood the value of broadband Internet, access to this service remains unequal in Canada and particularly affects rural households and First Nations communities. To reach the federal government’s goal of connecting 100% of Canadians by 2030—and ideally before then—some witnesses said that federal, provincial and regional initiatives need to be better coordinated,” it added.
Cartt has reported on some municipalities opting for a public-private model for broadband builds.
Committee hearings included officials from Innovation Canada, Rural Economic Development, municipal councilors, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, satellite company Telesat, and Quebecor, which discussed with the committee barriers to access to support structures for telecom equipment as a problem for broadband expansion.
