Whereas local governments are the level of government which are closest to the communities they serve and are which best understands local needs, knowledge, and opportunities of these communities; And whereas the current framework for planning, funding, implementing, and announcing broadband improvement projects excludes local governments at every stage beyond the funding application phase, particularly as projects are implemented, resulting in disconnection between projects being supported and projects being delivered: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the BC Ministry of Citizens Services and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to include local governments at all stages of every internet and broadband improvement project and funding application to provide effective means of keeping local elected officials informed and providing an avenue for local knowledge to be incorporated.
Ministry of Citizens Services Connectivity funding is provided through competitive application-based funding programs, such as the Canadas Universal Broadband Fund and BCs Connecting British Columbia and Connecting Communities BC. The current Connecting Communities BC program is funded in partnership with the federal government, and eligibility is tied to applicant and project criteria defined by the Universal Broadband Fund. All applications to the Connecting Communities BC program go through extensive review by the provincial and federal governments and are required to meet all criteria and pass a series of assessments to ensure the funding provides a cost effective and technically sound solution for each community or locale. Once a project application begins the assessment and negotiation stages with funding programs, proceedings are confidential between the applicant and funding programs due to proprietary and competitive commercial business nature of the information. The Province agrees that local and First Nation governments should be involved in public funding decisions for connectivity projects in their areas. Local and First Nation governments can partner with service providers to submit funding applications to the program. Every application to the provincial funding program, Connecting Communities BC is required to include a letter of support from the local government for the area to be served andor a Council Resolution from the First Nation. This step in the process ensures service providers are communicating directly with communities benefiting from program funding and local and First Nation governments are directly engaged with the service provider in the project design.