Question Period Note: RAPID RESPONSE STREAM – UNIVERSAL BROADBAND FUND

What is the status of the Rapid Response Stream of the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF)?

• The Government of Canada recognizes the urgency of bridging the digital divide for Canadians.

• The government has set aside up to $150 million for a Rapid Response Stream under the Universal Broadband Fund to address ongoing COVID-19 pressures.

• Projects under the Rapid Response stream will be deployed as quickly as possible, and must be completed by November 15, 2021.

• Rapid Response projects are currently being assessed and announcements of successful projects are already underway.

SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES

• The Rapid Response Stream will allocate up to $5 million to projects that can be deployed quickly and have an immediate impact in rural and remote areas.

• 574 applications were received under the Rapid Response Stream.

• The remainder of Universal Broadband Fund remains open for applications until March 15, 2021.

• The government has made billions of dollars available for rural and remote Internet infrastructure to help ensure all Canadians have access to fast and reliable Internet, no matter where they live.

• The government’s investments, together with provincial, territorial and private sector investments, will ensure that 98 per cent of Canadians across the country are connected to high-speed Internet by 2026, with the goal of connecting all Canadians by 2030.

The Rapid Response Stream was added to the UBF as a way to support smaller, ready-to-go projects that could be completed quickly during these unprecedented times, helping communities survive the pandemic and helping to support ongoing economic recovery.

Applications for the Rapid Response stream were accepted on a rolling intake basis until January 15, 2021. In total, 574 applications were received from all provinces and territories except the Yukon. These applications requested over $550 million and represented total project costs of over one billion dollars. On December 17, 2020, the first project to be funded under the UBF Rapid Response Stream was announced, providing $1 million in funding for Netago Internet to bring high-speed Internet access to 7,179 underserved households in Starland County and Stettler County, Alberta, by November 15, 2021.

Connectivity Strategy

The government published Canada’s Connectivity Strategy in June 2019. The Strategy committed to connect every Canadian to affordable, high-speed Internet no matter where they live by 2030, and to improve mobile cellular access from coast to coast to coast. The UBF is a key action under the Strategy, along with other complementary measures such as improving access to spectrum, reducing barriers to investment, and broadband funding from other entities including the CRTC, Infrastructure Canada, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

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