The CRTC launched the Broadband Fund in 2019 to help ensure Canadians, regardless of where they live, have access to fast and reliable Internet and cellphone services. Through its fund, the CRTC contributes to a broad effort by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to address the gap in connectivity in underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada.
Through funded projects, communities across Canada, including many Indigenous communities, are gaining access to high-speed Internet and cellphone services. These projects connect households and essential institutions such as schools, health care facilities, and community centres. They also support economic growth for businesses and improve coverage along major roads, enhancing public safety for travelers and local communities.
To date, the CRTC has allocated approximately $771 million to projects that provide Internet or cellphone services to over 54,000 homes in more than 320 communities. The Broadband Fund has also helped improve cellphone services on over 650 kilometres of major roads and supported the building of nearly 6,000 kilometres of fibre across the country.
The CRTC is launching a new call for proposals to the Broadband Fund.
Call for Proposals
As part of this call for proposals, the CRTC is focusing on projects that:
- bring high-speed Internet to Canadian homes at speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads, with the option of unlimited data;
- improve Internet in communities that depend on satellite service; or
- increase satellite transport to support better connectivity in communities that rely on satellite service.
Details of the call for proposals are outlined in Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2026-63. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Application Guide and the Technical and Program Details Guide. The guides provide detailed instructions on how to submit a proposal and outline the eligibility and assessment criteria.
Proposals submitted under previous calls will not be considered in the new call. However, they may be updated and re-submitted if they are eligible for funding. Applicants will be notified whether their proposal is approved or not.
Improving the Broadband Fund
In 2024, the CRTC reviewed the fund to make it easier and faster for applicants to submit a proposal for funding. The improvements to the Broadband Fund simplify the evaluation criteria and reduces the amount of information required from applicants. The updates also reduce barriers for Indigenous applicants and increase requirements for community engagement and consent by Indigenous communities.
Supporting Indigenous Connectivity Through the Broadband Fund
In addition to recent changes that make it easier for Indigenous applicants to submit a proposal for funding, the CRTC has launched a public proceeding to create a dedicated Indigenous funding stream within the Broadband Fund. This new stream would be designed to better meet the unique needs and challenges Indigenous communities face when trying to access and maintain reliable connectivity.
Through this process, the CRTC aims to work collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, organizations, and businesses to identify how the new stream can better meet their needs when submitting a proposal for funding.
A draft of the proposed Indigenous stream will be put on the record prior to the CRTC's final decision. This will give all parties an opportunity to provide their final comments before the Indigenous stream is launched.
Once implemented, the new stream of the Broadband Fund will build on existing efforts to connect more Indigenous communities to high-speed Internet and cellphone services.
