The first intake of the new provincial connectivity funding program, Connecting Communities BC, will open for applications Wednesday, September 7 at 9:00 am PDT, and will close Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 2:00 pm PST. Eligible applicants include internet service providers (ISPs), or Indigenous or local governments working with ISPs.
The program focuses on expanding broadband internet services to underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities using technologies such as fibre, cable, and fixed wireless. Broadband internet services must be at least 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload speeds, and be compliant with the program criteria.
The funding for Connecting Communities BC comes from a joint agreement by the provincial and federal governments to invest up to $830 million ($415 million each) to support expanding broadband connectivity infrastructure in BC to all households by 2027.