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By Chris Brown

Universal Broadband Fund

Province expanding access to rural broadband funding

Sep 20, 2022 | 1:57 PM

The provincial government is launching a new fund to help get all Albertans access to reliable, high-speed internet.

The Alberta Broadband Fund (ABF) will complement the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to help the province reach its goal of 100 per cent connectivity by 2026-27 by providing a funding pathway for broadband projects that did not apply to or qualify for the UBF.

The province is allocating $36 million to the ABF, which will begin accepting applications from communities and service providers later this fall. It’s part of Alberta’s Broadband Strategy, a historic $390-million commitment over four years to improve access to high-speed internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish says he’s heard many communities were unable to apply to the Universal Broadband Fund in time and the ABF will ensure that no community is left behind.

According to the province, about 489,000 Albertans living in 201,000 households lack access to federal target speeds of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) downloads and 10 Mbps uploads.

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“Access to high-speed, affordable internet is essential for building a more resilient rural economy and creating jobs, but the UCP has failed to deliver for Albertans. They’re just putting a new coat of paint on the same old announcement. Meanwhile, the digital divide continues to grow under the UCP,” said Heather Sweet, NDP Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Critic.

The Opposition says this marks the fifth time the UCP has announced broadband funding in over a year. The party says in July of last year, the UCP government announced funding for broadband projects. At the time, saying, “details on how this new funding will roll out will be announced in the coming weeks.”

In December, the NDP says the UCP made another funding announcement with the federal government and promised, “Albertans can look forward to having shovels in the ground in the 2022 construction season.”

However, the NDP says the UCP has missed that deadline and failed to provide any details on how funding will be distributed.

“The UCP don’t have a plan and now they’re just spinning their wheels. If the minister is looking for ideas on how to deliver broadband, he could always consult our plan,” said Sweet.

“An NDP government will close the digital divide and deliver high-speed internet to every Albertan within our first mandate,” added Sweet.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)