Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program

The Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program consists of $9 million in new funding to targeted rural communities for projects that enable access to reasonable high-speed broadband service. This funding is part of a Government of Alberta Community Adaptation and Transition Initiative to help economically vulnerable rural communities adapt by investing in economic development and diversification initiatives. Overall funding for the Initiative was made available through the National Community Development Trust.

Eligible Activities
The Program will consider applications to fund broadband projects in communities that:

• Are in transition as a result of changing economic circumstances and vulnerable to economic uncertainty as a result of dependence on a single employer or economic sector
• Currently have limited or no access to reasonable high-speed broadband service

• Infrastructure projects to benefit from the Alberta SuperNet
• Testing and evaluating technologies to extend or enhance broadband service
• Feasibility studies in support of broadband infrastructure projects
• Outreach and extension programs to create a culture of broadband use and skill sets

• Local authorities (as defined in the Municipal Government Act) that are legal entities
• Bands, as defined in the Indian Act
• Métis settlements
• Incorporated not-for-profit community organizations
• Cooperatives that do not distribute profits to their members or shareholders