Whereas reliable and affordable access to broadband internet connectivity should be made available to all rural, remote and Indigenous communities in BC to support public health safety, economic development, social inclusion and access to information; And whereas the Government of Canada has recognized that not all Canadians have access to reliable and affordable internet services and has established a Ministry of Rural Economic Development that includes rural broadband as a top priority: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of BC to seriously commit to funding, and lobbying the federal government to fund, the implementation of affordable and reliable broadband internet services for all British Columbians.
Ministry of Citizens Services On March 8, 2022, the Province of BC announced a historic joint federal and provincial 830 million investment 415 million each to connect the remaining underserved rural and Indigenous households in BC to high-speed internet services by 2027, of which there are approximately 115,000. Connecting Communities BC is the Provinces new connectivity program to fund projects that support the expansion of high-speed internet services. Through this funding program, eligible applicants apply for funding to help bring high-speed internet services to underserved rural, remote and Indigenous communities using multiple technologies, such as fibre, cable and fixed wireless. The commitment to support expansion of high-speed internet services to all households by 2027 aims to help level the playing field for British Columbians, closing the digital divide and ensuring rural and Indigenous communities have better access to jobs, education, training, health care and new, diversified economic opportunities. In Canada telecommunications companies are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC. The federal government is leading affordability programs to help pay for internet services in Canada, including a program launched in 2018 in partnership with service providers, called Connecting Families. Connecting Families URL: https:www.connecting-families.cawelcome