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Governments commit up to $300M for high-speed internet in Alberta

Dec 16, 2021 | 3:40 PM

EDMONTON – Canadians across the country need access to reliable, high-speed Internet and the provincial and federal governments are helping residents out.

Nate Glubish, minister of Service Alberta, announced an agreement to bring high-speed Internet to underserved rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Alberta.

Under the partnership, the release says both governments will work collaboratively to assess, select and co-fund projects that have been submitted through the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund.

This announcement is preliminary as funding announcements for individual projects will begin in early 2022.

The total combined funding commitment is up to $300 million.

The Government of Canada will be matching dollar for dollar the $150 million commitment made by Alberta’s government in July 2021.

READ MORE: Alberta announces $150M for broadband internet in rural & Indigenous communities

“Alberta’s government is committed to eliminating the digital divide. Solving the broadband problem requires all levels of government and the private sector to come together.

Albertans living outside major urban centres have been at a digital disadvantage because of unreliable broadband, but we are building partnerships to end that, and today, we’re so much closer to a solution. Connectivity is on the horizon,” says Glubish.

More information will be announced on individual projects in 2022.