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 the Province of British Columbia provide local governments with the ability to set tax rates for broadband infrastructure.
