Broadband Infrastructure Taxation

Whereas the cost to deploy broadband infrastructure to support connectivity services is significant and revenue opportunities in rural areas are often not adequate to provide a return on investment that would attract private investment, resulting in underserved rural communities throughout the province; And whereas both the Provincial and Federal Governments have made universal access to broadband services a priority including through the provision of infrastructure grants to encourage private investment in rural areas; however, the ongoing property taxation of broadband infrastructure creates a significant additional cost which further inhibits the already strained business case for private investment in broadband connectivity: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province of British Columbia to either exempt broadband telecommunication assets from property taxation or alter the valuation scheme for broadband infrastructure serving rural communities.