More funding is being put towards bringing high-speed internet to rural and Indigenous communities in Alberta.
Over the last year, the federal and provincial governments have been working together to bring more funding to this project. On Wednesday (Mar.9), officials announced that they would increase their combined funding to $390-million each over the next four years.
"I’m so excited to have the federal government joining us as partners to match that commitment, pushing the total investment to $780-million. As we work with the private sector partners that will build this infrastructure, we know they will have significant financial contributions to make," said Alberta's minister of service, Nate Glubish.
Improving broadband internet connectivity has been a priority for several years. Currently, about 80 per cent of Indigenous communities and 67 per cent of rural communities do not have access to the high-speed internet targets set by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
There are currently over 200,000 residents who do not have access to high-speed internet in the province.
"With this funding agreement in place, we can focus on reviewing funding applications and getting shovels in the ground this spring so we can bring immediate relief to Albertans all across the province.”
The total cost of expanding rural broadband internet to underserved areas of the province is estimated at $1-billion.