CONNECTING BRITISH COLUMBIA PHASE TWO CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY FUNDING

Connectivity Infrastructure Strategy

This program intake is to provide funding support for local municipal governments, regional districts and First Nations with limited capacity to undertake a connectivity infrastructure strategy (e.g., feasibility assessments, business cases, developing applications) to develop sustainable connectivity infrastructure projects. The development of connectivity infrastructure strategies are important to ensure that infrastructure investments are, to the extent possible, coordinated, scalable, provide value for money and achieve priority objectives for the region.

• Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a first come, first serve basis until available funds are committed.
• Applicants may contract qualified third-party consultants to provide communities with access to tools and resources to navigate the connectivity landscape, including best practices and shared learning.
• Written support from the local government body is required before an application will be considered for funding.

The program will allow communities to access third party funding to offset the cost of hiring a telecommunications consultant to assist with rural and remote community connectivity planning. The consultants will provide communities with access to tools and resources to navigate the connectivity landscape, including best practices and shared learning. Eligible project types and activities may include:

• Community engagement activities that guide the design and implementation of broadband projects.
• Relationship, partnership and coalition development to assist with connectivity expansion initiatives.
• Providing assistance to support applications to federal government connectivity programs.
• Research and reports that inform and support the design, build and operations of networks, including technical specifications, landing stations, and the preparation of engineer-stamped business cases, if required.
• Interpretation of regulatory decisions and advice on implications for community connectivity plans.
• The development of comprehensive business documents for telecommunications services such as business cases, value assessments, stakeholder plans, accountability matrixes, acquisition plans, governance plans and transition plans.
• Benchmarking studies and best practice reviews.
• Development of change management strategies and governance structures.
• Project management, coordination and development.