Areas of this region underserved by cellular coverage will benefit from a $1.75-billion fund to expand high-speed internet to Canadians in rural and remote communities, including in northeastern Ontario, Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré said this week..
The Universal Broadband Fund that was part of the Liberal budget announcement in early 2019, months before last year's federal election, has taken longer than expected to be officially launched. It was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday.
The fund will help improve high-speed Internet access and mobile connectivity across Canada. That includes underserved communities in the Nickel Belt riding and Greater Sudbury area, Serré said in a press release.
“Our communities’ economic development and ability to overcome the challenges of this pandemic greatly depends on having access to quality and affordable internet and cellular coverage for all,” said Serré.
“Working closely with municipal governments, the private sector and stakeholders, I will continue to advocate to ensure this important funding will benefit Nickel Belt.”
Originally designed as a $1-billion program, the government has increased funding for UBF to $1.75 billion, to help connect more Canadians and allow them to better prepare for the future, said Serré’s press release.
The enhanced UBF also recognizes the need for urgency, the release stated, touting a streamlined application process.
Dubbed the Rapid Response Stream (RPS), the federal government said this accelerated application process will allow shovel-ready projects to get started right away.
This RPS will benefit local telecom companies in Northern Ontario and further contribute to our economic recovery, said the press release.
The application period is now open and community partners and stakeholders are being encouraged to apply for funding.
The federal government is also committing $600 million to secure low-earth-orbit satellite capacity through Telesat, in order to provide high-speed internet to the most rural and remote parts of Canada, the press release added.
-With files from Canadian Press
