By Shaun Penner

Universal Broadband Fund

County of Grande Prairie Council backs applications for federal broadband funding

Jan 14, 2021 | 12:33 PM

County of Grande Prairie Council will be writing letters of support to three communications companies to support their application to the federal Universal Broadband Fund to help improve high-speed internet accessibility in the County.

The $1.75 billion fund established by the Government of Canada aims to get broadband infrastructure built in rural and remote communities across Canada that can provide high-speed internet at minimum speeds of 50 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per second upload.

County Reeve Leanne Beaupre says this will be very beneficial for county residents, should these applications be approved.

“There’s different levels of connectivity with the County of Grande Prairie. Some of them are serviced by wireless, some of them are serviced by satellite, some of them are serviced by fibre,” said Beaupre. “Each of them has different levels and capabilities.

“Anytime you can get that type of an investment back into a broadband strategy or into a broadband program, it certainly is beneficial to all of the residents of the County of Grande Prairie.”

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The Universal Broadband Fund is part of the federal government’s High-Speed Internet for All strategy, which aims to connect 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026, and all Canadians by 2030.

The letters of support from the county will go to Xplornet, GPNetworks and Canadian Fibre Optics.

“Although they didn’t need the County’s support in the form of a letter to make that application to the federal government, it certainly helps boost their chances of at least qualifying for some funding.”

County administration notes in their report to council that the fund would be accessible for projects which would expand services in Bezanson/Rio Bend Estates, Dimsdale, Webster, the Saskatoon Mountain area, Horse Lake First Nation, and potentially Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley.

Administration also notes that they are working with SaskTel International to provide a report to Council on the current state of broadband in the County.

“The next steps include identifying future plans from industry and providing Council with the gaps in service as well as options to close those gaps,” reads the report.

It is also noted that success in obtaining funding from the Universal Broadband Fund from the three providers would help “dramatically reduce” the timing of broadband network expansion activities within the County.