Universal Broadband Fund investing in Foothills Communities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, more than ever, rural Canadians count on access to reliable high-speed Internet. The strain of the pandemic has forced many people to work from home and students to learn virtually.

Small business owners need to connect to the virtual marketplace, farmers who are on the cutting edge of technology need to be able to connect for crop, herd and soil management and seniors must be able to access their health care services.

The Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund, with the partnership of Telus announced today the approval of rural connectivity projects in Blackie, Bragg Creek and Stavely, improving broadband access for our communities.

This means, nearly 600 rural households and businesses in these communities will be connected to high speed internet by November 15, 2021.

Quotes:

“I strongly believe access to high speed internet is essential and should be treated as such. It was a top priority in my riding before COVID, but the pandemic has exacerbated the need for high speed internet service and to address gapping holes within the system, especially in rural communities. This investment is a necessity for these communities, and will help ensure our rural communities remain strong and resilient during these difficult times. It will also provide the opportunity for these communities to attract new businesses, which is critical to grow our rural economy.
– John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills

“TELUS is committed to ensuring that all Albertans can stay connected to the people and information that matter the most, regardless of where they choose to live. Bridging digital divides is central to everything we do, so we are proud to be connecting 47 more rural communities, including Blackie, Bragg Creek and Stavely, in partnership with the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). Last year, TELUS expedited capital investments from our previously announced $16 billion investment in Alberta to support the province throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including a specific focus on connecting rural and remote communities that require access to reliable, world-class networks. These investments, including those announced today, will ensure that Albertans in more remote parts of our province have equal access to the educational, health, and economic opportunities that High Speed Broadband provides.”
~ Shazia Zeb Sobani, TELUS Vice-President of Customer Network Implementation

Quick facts

• Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.
• Applications to the Universal Broadband Fund closed on March 15, 2021.
• The UBF was first announced in Budget 2019, but was not launched until November 9, 2020