Investments in Broadband infrastructure

Jim Eglinski, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead, is pleased to inform residents of investments being made into rural broadband infrastructure in Alberta.

The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development announced funding of $17.1 million through the Connect to Innovate program. The investment is intended to bring new or improved high-speed Internet to Albertans in 39 rural and remote communities. Of the 39 communities that will benefit from this investment, five are Indigenous communities.

“This investment will help residents of these communities do business online, participate in distance education, and take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital age,” stated MP Eglinski.

The organizations receiving federal funding are:

• Arrow Technology Group GP Limited – $7.05 million to provide 10 communities—five of which are Indigenous communities—and 29 institutions with access to high-speed Internet services.

• Buried Glass Inc. – $7.34 million to provide 18 communities and 116 institutions with access to high-speed Internet services.

• Beacon Broadband Inc. – $476,000 to provide three communities and four institutions with access to high-speed Internet services.

• Cardston County – $212,000 to provide a community and an institution with access to high-speed Internet services.

• Rigstar Communications – $216,000 to provide enhanced Internet connectivity to 164 households in the community of Kew.

• GPNetworks – $521,000 to provide one community and three of its institutions with access to high-speed Internet service.

• Missing Link Internet Inc. – $1.33 million to provide five communities and nine institutions with access to high-speed Internet services.

The funding is part of the Government of Canada’s $500-million Connect to Innovate program, which is helping to build the digital backbone of high-speed Internet networks across the country. Backbone networks are the digital highways that move data in and out of communities. These highways carry large amounts of data that are essential for schools, hospitals, libraries and businesses to function in a digital world.

“I am pleased that some of funding will directly benefit companies operating in the Yellowhead region. Though this does not cover every community that is currently in need, it is a good start,” concluded MP Eglinski.

For more information, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/programs/ computer-internet-access/connect-to-innovate.html