Transport Infrastructure
Transport projects funded under the program must achieve one or several of the following objectives:
- Provide new infrastructure or upgrades to existing infrastructure to allow improved availability of high-speed internet in areas with limited coverage. Examples of upgrades are replacing of old copper cables and replacing aging or saturated radio links.
- Improve network diversity by providing alternate paths into regions with single points of failure or circuits exposed to natural or human risk factors like landslides, flooding, or fire.
- Support expansion of the 50/10 Mbps CRTC service objective at affordable rates by providing market options or competitive wholesale pricing to rural and underserved areas, or areas historically dependent on only one provider.
- Provide transport infrastructure capable of supporting future services in areas underserved by other telecommunication services like cellular or public Wi-Fi, by offering breakouts in specific geographical areas where improved coverage can be achieved.
Eligible Projects
The program intake, effective September 1, 2018, is to provide funding for transport projects to ensure that infrastructure investments are, to the extent possible, coordinated, scalable, provide value for money and achieve priority objectives for the region.
It is highly recommended that applications are in support of regional connectivity strategies that enable outcomes that are a priority for the local government, regional district or First Nation benefiting from the investment. Written support from the local government body is required before an application will be considered for funding.
Transport projects are defined as high-speed fibre or radio links building a point-to-point segment between two communities, or extension or breakout segments splitting from existing transport lines. High-speed means at least 1 Gbps.
Also, eligible projects must clearly provide social benefits to the serviced areas. Some examples of social benefits considered are:
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- Multiple points-of-presence along the route where there is no business case for last-mile and potential to enable cellular services or 5G at later date.
- Offers value-added services like free Wi-Fi to community locations and rest areas.
- Offers internet gateway services to last-mile providers under better-than-market conditions.
- Offers pricing models reducing costs over time and improves the affordability of last-mile services.
- Enabling government services in rural and underserved communities.
Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a first come, first serve basis until available funds are committed.
Transport Infrastructure Build
- Transport infrastructure includes all equipment and materials required to build and connect at least two points in a high-speed segment.
- Applications will be required to demonstrate that capacity built over the transport segment will allow for wholesale rates to provide for last-mile services at prices comparable to large urban areas in BC.
Eligible Builds
- Applications that deliver at least 1 Gbps using high-speed fibre or radio links are strongly preferred.
- Applications providing breakout points or other technical solutions to allow future builds in rural and underserved communities are strongly preferred.
- Applications supporting last-mile projects either in development or in planning phases are strongly preferred.
- Applications that provide new or improved transport where an existing internet service provider does not already provide 50/10 Mbps service will be preferred.
Ineligible Builds
- Applications that share spectrum, infrastructure
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must agree to own, operate, and maintain the transport infrastructure as a condition to obtain the funds.
Examples of eligible applicants include:
- Local, regional or national internet service provider.
- Local government or regional district established by BC legislation.
- First Nation or First Nation organizations – i.e., band or tribal council or a corporation controlled by a First Nation.
- Unincorporated area whose application is submitted through a regional district or a not-for-profit organization.
- Not-for-profit corporations, not-for-profit co-operatives or societies, registered and active in BC.
Individuals cannot apply to the program.
