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Technical and Program Details Guide for the 9 April 2026 Call for Applications for the Broadband Fund

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Table of contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Evaluation of applications
  3. Eligible and ineligible project costs
  4. Funding conditions
  5. Distribution of funding
  6. Confidentiality
  7. Security
  8. Definitions of key terms

1. Introduction

The Technical and Program Details Guide (this Guide) provides detailed instructions and policy interpretations for the Broadband Fund’s fourth call for applications (Call 4). It explains what applicants must demonstrate and how they should present required information in their applications to meet the evaluation criteria, which include eligibility requirements, assessment criteria, and selection considerations.

Applicants should review this Guide alongside the Application Guide and the Mapping Guide when preparing an application. The Application Guide provides an overview of the Broadband Fund and Call 4, including its objectives, the overall process to apply for and receive funding, and the supports provided to Indigenous applicants to help advance reconciliation and reduce barriers. It also provides details on how to apply (section E), lists resources to help applicants complete their applications (section F), and provides guidance on engaging communities affected by a proposed project (section H).

The Mapping Guide provides detailed instructions on how to use the Eligibility Mapping Tool, which is an external tool created by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.Footnote 1 This tool must be used to create a map of a proposed project, which is required to apply to the Broadband Fund.

To apply for funding from the Broadband Fund, applicants must enter all required information directly in the Online Intake System and submit a project map along with supporting documents. Together, this information makes up an application. The application should demonstrate how a proposed project meets the evaluation criteria. Applicants must also provide additional details that are not directly tied to eligibility, such as a high-level project description and timelines. Applications that are missing any required information may be considered incomplete and may not be assessed further. The CRTC will not consider applications submitted under previous calls. A new application must be submitted for Call 4.

2. Evaluation of applications

The CRTC uses evaluation criteria to assess applications and identify proposed projects that could contribute to meeting the universal service objectiveFootnote 2 and have the most positive impact on Canadians.

In Call 4, the CRTC will prioritize projects that target geographic areas that are not forecasted to receive services that meet the universal service objective through any federal, provincial, territorial, or regional broadband funding programs. The CRTC will also prioritize projects that propose to serve the greatest number of households.

2.1 Eligibility criteria

In the first stage of evaluation, the CRTC verifies that an application is eligible for funding. Eligibility criteria include both criteria that apply to all project types and additional criteria that apply only to the specific project type proposed in the application. An application that fails to meet one or more eligibility criteria will not be considered further.

An applicant must clearly demonstrate, with supporting evidence, how their application meets each of the applicable eligibility criteria.

2.1.1 General eligibility criteria

The following eligibility criteria apply to all applications.

2.1.1(a) Applicant eligibility – Eligible applicant types and roles and responsibilities

An application may be submitted on behalf of a single applicant or an applicant group. To be eligible for funding, an applicant must demonstrate that it is one of the following:

An applicant group must describe the roles and responsibilities that each group member will have in managing and implementing the project. For universal service objective fixed broadband projects and satellite-dependent community capital projects, an applicant group must identify which entity will:

The following are not eligible as applicants or as members of an applicant group: individuals, federal departments, agencies, boards, commissions, Crown corporations, and special operating agencies.

How to meet 2.1.1(a):

An applicant that is a Canadian corporation must include its corporate registration number in the Online Intake System.

An applicant group must describe the roles and responsibilities of each member. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

2.1.1(b) Applicant eligibility – Eligible to operate as a Canadian carrier

An applicant, or at least one member of an applicant group, must demonstrate that it is eligible to operate as a Canadian carrier under section 16 of the Telecommunications Act.

2.1.1(c) Applicant eligibility – Financially solvent

An applicant or each member of an applicant group, except for an applicant that is a provincial or territorial government, must adequately demonstrate its financial solvency and reliability by providing independently prepared financial statements for the last two years (see section 8 for definitions of “solvent” and “reliable”).

How to meet 2.1.1(c):

An applicant, except for provincial and territorial governments,Footnote 3 must confirm that it, or each member of the applicant group, is financially solvent and reliable in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of Canada. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Where possible, applicants should submit each fiscal year’s financial statements as separate files.

2.1.1(d) Applicant eligibility – Experience building and operating broadband infrastructure

An applicant must demonstrate that:

An applicant group can use combined experience to meet this eligibility criterion. For example, one member of an applicant group can have the required minimum of three years of experience building broadband infrastructure in Canada, while another member can have the required minimum of three years of experience operating broadband infrastructure in Canada (see section 8 for definitions of “building broadband infrastructure” and “operating broadband infrastructure”).

If an applicant will rely on a third-party entity such as a supplier, contractor, or equivalent to meet this eligibility requirement (the entity), it will be required to (i) identify the entity that will provide the required experience, (ii) describe how the entity meets the eligibility criteria, and (iii) provide a letter of intent or equivalent confirming the entity’s commitment to the proposed project.

How to meet 2.1.1(d):

An applicant must provide evidence that it has three or more years of experience in both building and operating broadband infrastructure in Canada, either individually or in combination across applicant group members. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

2.1.1(e) Project eligibility – Outreach

To be eligible to receive funding from the Broadband Fund, an applicant must:

Each applicant will be required to commit to undertaking any further outreach or engagement efforts that the CRTC considers necessary. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, obligations regarding engagement with Indigenous communities and groups that are published in any CRTC funding decision.

This eligibility criterion focuses on demonstrating that outreach has been undertaken or attempted. The quality and outcome of the engagement and the involvement of the affected community will also be considered as part of the CRTC’s assessment.

How to meet 2.1.1(e):

An applicant should consult the following resources to help meet this criterion:

An applicant must provide evidence that it has notified and reached out to all affected communities. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Note that a single outreach activity (for example, a letter sent to an elected body representing multiple communities) may apply to more than one affected community, but each community must be identified.

2.1.1(f) Project eligibility – Contingency

To be eligible to receive funding, an application cannot be contingent on factors such as (i) funding for another application under the Broadband Fund or (ii) funding from another program that has not been secured by the time the application is submitted. Each application must be technologically and financially independent and will be assessed on its own merit.

How to meet 2.1.1(f):

An applicant must confirm in the Online Intake System that its application is not contingent on any other factors.

2.1.2 Eligible project types

In Call 4, the following project types are eligible for funding:

An applicant is required to demonstrate in its application that it meets the eligibility criteria applicable to its proposed project type.

The following project types are ineligible in Call 4:

2.1.2(a) Project eligibility – Universal service objective fixed broadband projects

A universal service objective fixed broadband project builds or upgrades broadband network infrastructure and uses fixed broadband technology to provide wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service to underserved households. Underserved households are those that do not currently have access to broadband Internet service at the universal service objective speed of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload (50/10 Mbps). A proposed project must provide new or improved Internet service that meets or exceeds 50/10 Mbps directly to end-users as a result of a fixed broadband project.

Fixed broadband infrastructure includes all the equipment and material required to connect eligible households to transport infrastructure. It also includes any new or upgraded transport infrastructure that is directly required to connect eligible households and to enable the project to meet the universal service objective. Customer premise equipment is not eligible for funding.

Projects must be located in eligible geographic areas. See sections 2.1.3(a) and 2.1.4(a) for a full description of geographic eligibility.

2.1.2(b) Project eligibility – Satellite-dependent community operational expense project

A satellite-dependent community operational expense project receives funding for operational expenses to increases satellite transport capacity and improves the telecommunications services offered in a satellite-dependent community beyond the highest service speeds currently available in the area. Eligible operational expenses are limited to costs directly related to covering operational costs to increase satellite transport capacity for up to five years and must be associated with improving the speed, capacity, and quality of telecommunications services in comparison to the level of service already provided in the area.

Projects must be located in eligible geographic areas. See section 2.1.5(a) for a full description of geographic eligibility.

2.1.2(c) Project eligibility – Satellite-dependent community capital project

A satellite-dependent community capital project builds or upgrades earth station equipment and/or access infrastructure to improve telecommunications services. An application must demonstrate how the proposed project will improve service quality, speed, or reliability for the community.

Projects must be located in eligible geographic areas. See section 2.1.5(a) for a full description of geographic eligibility.

2.1.3 Specific eligibility criteria for universal service objective projects

The following eligibility criteria only apply to universal service objective projects.

2.1.3(a) Fixed broadband project – Eligibility criterion – Geographic eligibility

An applicant’s proposed project must serve one or more households that do not have terrestrial service that meets the universal service objective for broadband Internet access service within Canada (i.e., eligible geographic areas). An applicant may submit more than one application in response to a call for applications. If an applicant submits more than one application, it should not propose to serve the same geographic areas in its different applications.

Eligible geographic areas are shown as road segments on the CRTC’s updated map and datasets for Call 4.Footnote 4 These tools are current as of the date of publication on the website and are provided for reference purposes only. Applicants are responsible for conducting their own due diligence to confirm that the geographic areas they propose to serve remain eligible. The CRTC may also rely on the most current data available, whether public or confidential, as it is received and verified to evaluate applications in order to avoid overbuilding and ensure the efficient use of funds.

How to meet 2.1.3(a):

An applicant should consult the following resources to help meet this criterion:

An applicant must propose to serve one or more households in an eligible geographic area. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Note that the attributes in the mapping file must match the Site and Route IDs identified in the Online Intake System.

2.1.3(b) Fixed broadband project – Eligibility criterion – Minimum service levels

An applicant must commit to meeting minimum service levels for fixed broadband Internet access services. For Call 4, projects must provide at least 50/10 Mbps service delivered directly to end-users.

2.1.3(c) Fixed broadband project – Eligibility criterion – Pricing and affordability for wireline or wireless broadband Internet access services

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must commit to meeting the pricing and affordability requirements set out below for the wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service packages that it will offer.

An applicant will be prompted to meet this commitment in the Online Intake System. If the applicant receives conditional funding approval, it will be required to propose, in its statement of work, wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service packages with rates, speeds, and data allowances that meet the following commitments:

An applicant can propose to provide rates that match the lowest rates it already provides in its proposed project’s province or territory. If the applicant proposes to match its own lowest rates, it must continue to match those rates for a minimum of five years following the project completion date. This means that if the applicant chooses to match its own service packages, it cannot increase the proposed rates or reduce the proposed service speeds and data allowances approved in the statement of work by adjusting the comparable packages.

See section 4.1.1(b) for information on project and service requirements considered in the development of the statement of work.

2.1.4 Transport infrastructure required for universal service objective projects

The following eligibility criteria only apply to universal service objective projects that include transport infrastructure.

An applicant who intends to build or upgrade terrestrial transport infrastructure as part of a fixed broadband project must ensure that its proposed project directly supports the delivery of high-speed Internet to underserved households. Funding is only available for transport infrastructure if it is part of a universal service objective project.

2.1.4(a) Transport infrastructure – Eligibility criterion – Geographic eligibility

An applicant requesting funding for terrestrial transport infrastructure must propose to build a universal service objective project in an eligible geographic area (see section 2.1.3(a)). The proposed terrestrial transport infrastructure must directly support the building or upgrading of broadband infrastructure to provide universal-service-objective-level services to underserved households.

The applicant should use existing transport infrastructure where possible and should propose to build or upgrade transport infrastructure only if it is unable to rely on existing transport infrastructure.

How to meet 2.1.4(a):

An applicant should consult the following resources to help meet this criterion:

An applicant must propose to serve one or more households in an eligible geographic area. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Note that the attributes in the mapping file must match the Site and Route IDs in the Online Intake System.

If the project cannot use existing transport infrastructure, the applicant must provide a short description of the current state of transport infrastructure in the area and explain why using that infrastructure is not feasible or sufficient to support the proposed project (e.g., the existing transport provider has no available capacity).

2.1.4(b) Transport infrastructure – Eligibility criterion – Wholesale open access to funded transport infrastructure

To be eligible for funding, an applicant that proposes to build or upgrade transport infrastructure as part of a universal service objective project must commit to offering wholesale open access service packages.

An applicant will be prompted to meet this commitment in the Online Intake System. If the applicant receives conditional funding approval, it will be required to propose, in its statement of work, wholesale open access service packages with rates, speeds, and data allowances that meet the following commitments:

Existing regulatory obligations (e.g., the requirement to file tariffs for wholesale open access services that are not forborne from regulation) will apply to any funded project to build or upgrade transport infrastructure.

Indigenous applicants are not required to make this commitment in their applications.

See section 4.1.1(c) for information on project and service requirements considered in the development of the statement of work.

2.1.4(c) Transport infrastructure – Eligibility criterion – Retail open access to funded transport infrastructure

An applicant that proposes to build or upgrade transport infrastructure as part of a universal service objective project must commit to providing retail open access to that infrastructure.

Existing regulatory obligations (e.g., the requirement to file tariffs for retail open access services that are not forborne from regulation) will apply to any funded project to build or upgrade transport infrastructure.

Indigenous applicants are not required to make this commitment in their applications.

2.1.5 Specific eligibility criteria for satellite-dependent community projects

The following eligibility criteria only apply to satellite-dependent community projects, including both operational expense and capital projects.

2.1.5(a) Satellite-dependent community project – Eligibility criterion – Geographic eligibility

An applicant’s proposed satellite-dependent community project must cover an eligible geographic area that is considered a satellite-dependent community (see section 8 for a definition of “satellite-dependent community project”). An applicant may submit more than one application in response to a call for applications. If an applicant submits more than one application, it should not propose to serve the same geographic areas in its different applications.

Eligible geographic areas are shown as community points on the CRTC’s updated map and datasets for Call 4. These tools are current as of the date of publication on the website and are provided for reference purposes only. Applicants are responsible for conducting their own due diligence to confirm that the geographic areas they propose to serve remain eligible. The CRTC may also rely on the most current data available, whether public or confidential, as it is received and verified to evaluate applications in order to avoid overbuilding and ensure the efficient use of funds.

How to meet 2.1.5(a):

An applicant should consult the following resources to help meet this criterion:

An applicant must propose to serve one or more households in an eligible geographic area. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Note that the attributes in the mapping file must match the Site and Route IDs in the Online Intake System.

2.1.5(b) Satellite-dependent community project – Eligibility criterion – Network improvement

An applicant’s proposed satellite-dependent community project must increase the existing transport capacity of each community that the proposed project will serve.

How to meet 2.1.5(b):

An applicant must propose to increase the existing transport capacity of each community that the proposed project will serve. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

2.1.5(c) Satellite-dependent community project – Eligibility criterion – Pricing and affordability for wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must commit to meeting the pricing and affordability requirements for the wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service packages that will be offered in a satellite-dependent community.

An applicant will be prompted to meet this commitment in the Online Intake System. If the applicant receives conditional funding approval, it will be required to propose, in its statement of work, wireline or wireless broadband Internet access service packages with rates, speeds, and data allowances that meet the following commitments:

An applicant can propose to provide rates that match the lowest rates it already provides in its proposed project’s province or territory. If the applicant proposes to match its own lowest rates, it must continue to match those rates for a minimum of five years following the project completion date. This means that if the applicant chooses to match its own service packages, it cannot increase the proposed rates or reduce the proposed service speeds and data allowances approved in the statement of work by adjusting the comparable packages.

See section 4.1.1(b) for information on project and service requirements considered in the development of the statement of work.

2.2 Assessment criteria

In the second stage of evaluation, the CRTC assesses eligible applications to determine which applications are suitable for funding. Assessment criteria include criteria common to all project types as well as criteria specific to the proposed project type.

An applicant must clearly demonstrate, with supporting evidence, how their proposed project addresses each of the applicable assessment criteria.

For Call 4, the CRTC will increase the weighting of the following assessment criteria:

2.2.1 General assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria apply to all applications submitted under Call 4.

2.2.1(a) Assessment criterion – Technical merit

The CRTC will assess whether a proposed project is technically feasible and resilient. The technical merit of a proposed project will be assessed based on the following:

The CRTC will assess a project more favourably if it incorporates advanced and adaptable network technologies, robust infrastructure, and proactive maintenance plans.

In its statement of work, the applicant will be required to provide further details demonstrating the ability of the proposed network(s) to handle future growth and ensure long-term viability. See section 4 for information on funding conditions and the statement of work.

How to meet 2.2.1(a):

An applicant must describe the technical merit of its proposed project. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

Note that an application will be assessed on its own merit and cannot be contingent on (i) funding for another application under the Broadband Fund or (ii) funding from another program that has not been secured by the time the application is submitted.

2.2.1(b) Assessment criterion – Financial viability

The CRTC will assess the potential financial success of a proposed project, based on an accurate and realistic business model (including a project cost estimate, project funding and financing details, and financial projections), to ensure that the project is viable and sustainable over the long term.

A proposed project should not be financially viable without funding from the Broadband Fund. To demonstrate this, the applicant must submit a business plan for its proposed project based on (i) pro forma standardized financial projections for the project and (ii) the assumption of zero funding from the Broadband Fund.

The CRTC will assess the business plan, together with the applicant’s financial statements, to determine the project’s financial viability. The CRTC will then factor in the requested funding amount to calculate the project’s net present value (NPV). A business plan that demonstrates a positive NPV would generally be considered viable with funding, while a business plan that demonstrates a negative NPV would generally be considered not viable even with the applicant’s requested amount of funding.

How to meet 2.2.1(b):

An applicant must demonstrate the potential financial success of a proposed project. It must also provide a business plan by submitting the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

An applicant should ensure that all submitted financial information is as realistic and accurate as possible, based on the nature of the project. All financial information should pertain exclusively to the proposed project outlined in the application.

2.2.1(c) Assessment criterion – Level of funding from other sources

The CRTC will assess whether the applicant has successfully raised funds for the proposed project and if so, how much was raised. This will help ensure that telecommunications companies and various levels of government continue to invest in broadband infrastructure and that funding from the Broadband Fund is used efficiently.

The CRTC will assess a project more favourably if it includes funding from sources other than the Broadband Fund (either from the applicant itself or third-party sources) towards total eligible project costs. The CRTC will evaluate this criterion by dividing the amount of funding requested from the Broadband Fund by the total eligible project costs to obtain a percentage (see section 3.1 for a list of eligible project costs).

An applicant must inform the CRTC of any additional funding it secures for its project between the application submission deadline and publication of the conditional funding decision.

How to meet 2.2.1(c):

An applicant must provide confirmation of any third-party funding commitments. If the project will receive funding or in-kind contributions from other sources (including other government funding programs or community grants), it must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

2.2.1(d) Assessment criterion – Engagement

The CRTC will use this criterion:

The CRTC will assess an application based on the quality of the applicant’s outreach efforts with affected communities. Outreach should be informative and timely and should establish a line of communication between the affected communities and the applicant.

The CRTC is providing a confidential process for applicants and communities affected by a proposed project to file additional documents related to community engagement after the application deadline has passed. This is intended to accommodate the reality that meaningful engagement takes time and may not be completed prior to the application deadline. An applicant must, however, provide sufficient evidence at the time of the application deadline to meet the eligibility criterion set out in section 2.1.1(e). Evidence filed after the application deadline has passed will be considered as part of the assessment of the quality of engagement.

Consent required for projects in Indigenous communities

An applicant that proposes a project that involves providing service or building infrastructure in an Indigenous community must provide evidence of written consent from the representatives of that Indigenous community before the CRTC provides its final funding approval. In these circumstances, the CRTC may issue a conditional funding decision requiring the applicant to provide proof of consent from the representatives of the Indigenous community before it issues the final funding decision. However, the CRTC will treat applications that are able to provide this prior to a conditional funding decision more favourably.

Engagement with Indigenous communities and groups

A proposed project may impact Indigenous communities, Aboriginal rights, or treaty rights. An applicant should take a distinctions-based approachFootnote 6 to engagement to ensure its efforts align with the community’s preferred or established approach. If applicable, the applicant must provide information gathered in its early engagement efforts, including:

An applicant should engage with Indigenous communities and groups using respectful timelines and in a way that is satisfactory to the community or group being engaged.

The CRTC will assess an application more favourably if:

How to meet 2.2.1(d):

An applicant should consult the following resources to help meet this criterion:

An applicant must submit to the CRTC any documents that provide evidence of notification, outreach, and engagement efforts. Documents submitted for this assessment criterion can be the same as those submitted to meet the 2.1.1(e) criterion. It must provide the following information and documents, as applicable, in the Online Intake System:

2.2.2 Specific assessment criteria for universal service objective projects

The following assessment criteria only apply to universal service objective projects.

The CRTC will assess universal service objective projects more favourably if they:

2.2.2(a) Fixed broadband project – Assessment criterion – Level of service improvement

The CRTC will compare the highest proposed wireline or wireless broadband Internet access speeds with the highest speeds currently available in the eligible geographic area(s). The CRTC will also compare proposed and existing speeds to the target speeds in the universal service objective. The CRTC will assess a project more favourably based on the extent to which the proposed service speeds:

2.2.2(b) Fixed broadband project – Assessment criterion – Coverage

The CRTC will assess the number of households to be served in the eligible geographic area(s). If two or more projects propose to serve the same eligible geographic area(s), the CRTC will assess the project that serves the most households in the area(s) more favourably (see section 8 for a definition of “cost per household”).

2.2.2(c) Fixed broadband project – Assessment criterion – Cost per household

The CRTC will determine whether funds are being used efficiently to connect as many households as possible in the eligible geographic area(s). The CRTC will assess a project with a lower eligible cost per household more favourably.

2.2.2(d) Fixed broadband project – Assessment criterion – Geographic scope of the proposed project

The CRTC will assess the geographic scope of a proposed project and determine whether the project should be considered further for funding. The CRTC will assess a project less favourably if there are other proposed or funded projects in the same geographic area(s) or if the project includes transport infrastructure that is not required to support the project. If the project cannot use existing transport infrastructure (e.g., the existing transport provider has no available capacity), the applicant must demonstrate that any existing transport infrastructure is not feasible or sufficient.

2.2.3 Specific assessment criteria for satellite-dependent community projects

The following assessment criteria only apply to satellite-dependent community projects, including both operational expense and capital projects.

The CRTC will assess satellite-dependent community projects more favourably if they:

2.2.3(a) Satellite-dependent community project – Assessment criterion – Level of service improvement

The CRTC will compare the highest proposed speeds for the proposed telecommunications services with the highest speeds currently available in the satellite-dependent community. The CRTC will also compare proposed and existing speeds to the target speeds in the universal service objective. The CRTC will assess a project more favourably based on the extent to which the proposed service speeds:

2.2.3(b) Satellite-dependent community project – Assessment criterion – Cost per household

The CRTC will determine whether funds are being used efficiently to connect as many households as possible in the satellite-dependent community. The CRTC will assess a project with a lower eligible cost per household more favourably (see section 8 for a definition of “cost per household”).

2.3 Selection considerations

In the third stage of evaluation, the CRTC selects projects from the subset of applications for projects identified as suitable for funding. The CRTC uses specific selection considerations that enable it to choose the projects that best meet the Broadband Fund’s objectives and remain within the limits of available funds.

In deciding between projects identified as suitable for funding, the CRTC will consider not only whether individual projects could contribute to meeting the universal service objective, but also which projects would have the most positive impact on Canadians. The CRTC will consider the policy objectives set out in section 7 of the Telecommunications Act, including the need to develop broadband service offerings across the country and to meet the economic and social needs of users.

The following are considerations that the CRTC may use to select projects.

2.3.1 Efficient use of funds

When selecting projects for funding, the CRTC will consider the amount of funding required for each project, when such funding should be distributed, and the amount of funding available in the Broadband Fund. Additionally, different proposed projects may cover the same eligible geographic area(s), or public funding from another source may be committed to a project that is similar to a project the CRTC is considering. In such cases, the CRTC must have flexibility to distribute funding in a way that does not cause overlap between projects or funding sources to ensure the efficient use of funds.

Therefore, when the CRTC selects projects from the group of projects identified as suitable for funding, it will give special consideration to the efficient use of funds.

2.3.2 Projects in multiple regions of Canada

When selecting projects for funding, the CRTC will consider the region(s) a project proposes to serve, the amount of funding requested, and the need to ensure that all regions of Canada receive support for telecommunications infrastructure. This ensures that Canadians have access to reliable high-speed Internet services that meet or exceed the universal service objective speed target. Funding will be distributed, as much as possible, to projects in underserved areas in multiple regions of Canada and not only in a single region or a small number of regions.

Therefore, when the CRTC selects projects from the group of projects identified as suitable for funding, it may give special consideration to projects that propose to serve multiple regions of Canada.

2.3.3 Social considerations

When selecting projects for funding, the CRTC will consider whether the communities to be served by a proposed project include Indigenous communities or official language minority communities (see section 8 for a definition of “official language minority communities”). The CRTC will consider whether proposed projects would fulfill (i) the economic and social requirements of the Indigenous communities or official language minority communities, consistent with the policy objectives set out in subsections 7(a), (b), and (c) of the Telecommunications Act and (ii) the Government of Canada’s commitment in the Official Languages Act to support and assist in the development of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada.

Therefore, when the CRTC selects projects from the group of projects identified as suitable for funding, it may give special consideration to (i) whether the communities to be served by a proposed project are Indigenous communities or official language minority communities, and (ii) whether a project is proposed by an Indigenous applicant or would provide service to an eligible Indigenous community.

3. Eligible and ineligible project costs

As outlined in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-328, only some of the costs associated with a proposed project will be eligible for reimbursement. An applicant must provide an estimate of its total eligible costs and total ineligible costs in its project budget (see project cost estimates in section 2.2.1(b)).

If an applicant intends to incur a cost that is not explicitly listed below or does not reasonably fit in the costs listed, it may state in its application why that cost should be eligible. The CRTC will then assess whether the cost is eligible.

3.1 Eligible costs

The CRTC will provide funding for eligible costs only. Eligible costs include costs for activities that are directly associated with implementing the proposed project as set out in the application and the CRTC’s funding decisions. The following eligible costs are for all eligible project types and include, but are not limited to, the following:

The following costs are eligible for funding for projects in satellite-dependent communities:

3.2 Ineligible costs

For all types of projects, the Broadband Fund will not provide funding to recipients to cover ineligible costs.Footnote 9 These costs include, but are not limited to, the following:

If the funding recipient, or recipient, hires a subcontractor to conduct part or all the work on the project, the CRTC may ask the recipient to provide a breakdown or a detailed invoice of costs paid to the subcontractor that lists the subcontractor’s costs. A claim for reimbursement for subcontractor costs must correspond to an eligible cost listed above.

4. Funding conditions

Once the CRTC has selected a project to be funded, further actions will be required to finalize and implement the project, such as issuing a conditional funding decision, reviewing and approving the applicant’s statement of work, publishing a final funding decision, overseeing project implementation and reporting, and approving project completion and the final release of funds.

Instead of implementing funding agreements, the CRTC will rely on its statutory powers under subsection 61(1) of the Telecommunications Act to make funding decisions conditional on the fulfillment of certain program requirements (i.e., conditional funding decisions). Those decisions will also set out other conditions that must be met for funds to be released.

The CRTC will also rely on sections 24 and 24.1 of the Telecommunications Act to impose conditions on the offering and provision of any telecommunications services by a Canadian carrier and by a person other than a Canadian carrier, respectively.

Conditions will be published in the conditional funding decision and the final funding decision (see section 8 for definitions of “conditional funding decision” and “final funding decision”). A standard list of conditions is listed in section 4.2.

The CRTC will also use a multipronged approach to compliance and enforcement, which can include the imposition of obligations, reporting requirements, the distribution and withholding of funding, and the imposition of conditions on the offering and provision of broadband services pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act. For conditions imposed under section 24 or 24.1 of the Telecommunications Act, the CRTC may also issue administrative monetary penalties or mandatory orders.

In addition, all existing regulatory obligations will continue to apply to all recipients, including, for example:

Recipients are expected to construct their projects in compliance with applicable regulatory obligations and federal, provincial, territorial, and industry-imposed standards.

Recipients are also encouraged to follow best industry practices to safeguard the resiliency, security, and sustainability of their networks against foreseeable threats in the geographic areas or regions where they will build their projects.

A non-exhaustive list of standards and industry best practices includes:

It is the applicant’s responsibility to identify and comply with any regulatory obligation that may apply to the provision of broadband services under its project.

4.1 Statement of work

As a condition of approval set out in each conditional funding decision (see section 4.2.1), the CRTC will require the applicant to provide additional project details and finalize the project plan in a statement of work. The CRTC must approve the statement of work in a final funding decision before the applicant becomes a recipient, funding is secured, and the recipient can submit claims for reimbursement.

The statement of work will set out, in detail, the applicant’s project implementation plan, including project scope; key project dates (including project start and completion dates); budget; requested amount of funding; project geographic area(s); technical details (such as logical network diagrams, network description, and equipment); project milestones and conditions; obligations; and reporting requirements.

Following the publication of the conditional funding decision, the applicant can start implementing its project and accruing project costs at its own risk and expense.

4.1.1 Project and service requirements considered in the development of the statement of work

An applicant must provide additional information, as needed, as part of its statement of work to receive final approval for funding in the final funding decision.

4.1.1(a) Sustainability and scalability

In addition to demonstrating technical merit at the application stage (see section 2.2.1(a)), an applicant must provide in its statement of work further technical details of its proposed project describing how the proposed network can handle future growth and ensure long-term viability.

4.1.1(b) Service packages and commitments for wireline and wireless broadband Internet access services

Building on the commitments made at the application stage (see sections 2.1.3(c) and 2.1.5(c)), an applicant must provide in its statement of work the specific service packages it will offer as a result of its proposed project. An applicant must propose service packages with rates, speeds, and data allowances that meet the following commitments:

An applicant can propose to provide rates that match the lowest rates it already provides in its proposed project’s province or territory. If an applicant proposes to match its own lowest rates, it must continue to match those rates for a minimum of five years following the project completion date.

A recipient will be expected to provide published proof showing that these service packages are being offered to customers once the project is completed. In addition, on the project completion date, when the recipient is offering wireline or fixed wireless broadband Internet access services, the CRTC will publish information about the recipient’s approved service packages on its website. This information will include, at a minimum, details of the service packages (rates, speeds, and data allowances) and geographic areas where the service packages are available.

4.1.1(c) Service packages and commitments for wholesale open access services

Building on the commitments made at the application stage (see section 2.1.4(b)), an applicant must provide in its statement of work the specific wholesale open access service packages it will offer. The CRTC will require an applicant that proposes to build or upgrade any transport infrastructure to commit to offering, at a minimum, dedicated wholesale open access to that infrastructure. The applicant must propose wholesale open access to all funded transport infrastructure at each of the proposed new or upgraded points of presence along the proposed transport route at one of the following speeds: 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, or 10 Gbps. Each point of presence along the transport route must also comply with the wholesale open access requirements.

As outlined in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-328, Indigenous recipients are exempt from the requirement to provide wholesale and retail open access to funded transport network infrastructure.

In addition, on the project completion date, when the recipient is offering wholesale services, the CRTC will publish information about the recipient’s approved service packages on its website. This information will include, at a minimum, details of the service packages (rates, speeds, and data allowances) and geographic areas where the service packages are available.

4.2 Conditions set out in funding decisions

The CRTC will set out conditions that apply to all recipients regarding the construction or upgrade of proposed networks and conditions that are specific to each recipient.

The exact conditions may vary depending on the project or the applicant. However, for information purposes, a standard list of conditions that the CRTC expects to impose on projects selected for funding is provided below.

4.2.1 Directions and conditions of approval

  1. This approval is subject to the conditions that the applicant:
    • confirm in writing, within 10 days of the date of this decision, its intent to submit a statement of work package to the CRTC and to proceed with the project
    • file for CRTC approval, within 120 days of the date of this decision, a completed statement of work package in the format provided by the CRTC, which includes the project budget, key project dates and schedules, proposed service packages, and detailed project information, such as logical network diagrams, network descriptions, service designs, information pertaining to sustainability and scalability, project sites, equipment details, maps, specific costs, and milestones
    • provide, as part of the statement of work package referenced above, evidence of consent from the representatives of any Indigenous community that will receive service or where infrastructure will be built as a result of the project
    • demonstrate, as part of the statement of work development phase, that the project has adequately considered cybersecurity. If the applicant fails to do so, it will be required to mitigate the cybersecurity risk to the CRTC’s satisfaction. Failure to propose a mitigation plan that is satisfactory to the CRTC could result in the refusal to approve the statement of work
  2. The applicant may not apply for reimbursement of its costs until the CRTC issues a final funding decision approving the applicant’s statement of work. Any eligible costs incurred prior to the final funding decision but following the issuance of a conditional decision are at the applicant’s risk and will not be reimbursed if the statement of work is not approved.
  3. In order for the Central Fund Administrator to be able to distribute funding, the recipient must sign the National Contribution Fund Administration Agreement, if it has not already done so.
  4. The recipient may not apply for reimbursement of, and funding will not be issued for, ineligible expenses, expenses that have yet to be incurred, or expenses that are not related to the activities described in the statement of work as approved by the CRTC.
  5. The recipient is expected to construct their project in compliance with all applicable regulatory obligations and federal, provincial, territorial, and industry-imposed standards. The recipient is also encouraged to follow industry best practices to safeguard the resiliency, security, and sustainability of its network.

4.2.2 Conditions of funding

  1. Following the final funding decision, the CRTC will direct the Central Fund Administrator to release funds to the recipient, provided that the recipient is in compliance with the following conditions:
    • The recipient must file a progress report, in the format provided by the CRTC, outlining the progress made in the implementation of the project and any variances to the statement of work. This report is to be filed every three months, or as otherwise approved by the CRTC, beginning on the date established in the final funding decision and continuing until the project completion date
    • The recipient must file a Broadband Fund claim form signed by its chief financial officer, or by an equivalent authorized official of the recipient, certifying that all costs claimed were actually incurred or paid, and are eligible costs related to the activities described in the statement of work, along with such supporting documentation as is requested by the CRTC. This claim form is to be filed along with the progress report every three months, or as otherwise approved by the CRTC, beginning on the date established in the final funding decision and continuing until the project completion date
    • With respect to eligible costs, the recipient must:
      • include eligible costs in a claim form submitted within 120 days of the costs being incurred, unless the costs were incurred after the date of the conditional funding decision but prior to the approval of the statement of work, in which case the costs must be claimed on the first claim form submitted after the approval of the statement of work
      • ensure that all goods and services are claimed for reimbursement at amounts not greater than fair market value after deducting all trade discounts and similar items. Only the fair market value of the goods and services acquired is eligible for reimbursement
    • The recipient must measure and claim all goods and services received from related parties, as defined under International Financial Reporting Standards, at cost, with no profits or markups from the supplier
    • To receive funding, the recipient must obtain CRTC approval for (i) any material changes to the project, as set out in the approved statement of work; and (ii) any changes to the recipient that would materially affect the legal or financial documents it provided during the application or statement of work process.
    • The recipient (including each member of a recipient partnership, joint venture, or consortium) must notify the CRTC in writing as soon as possible and within no more than five days of becoming insolvent
    • If it receives any additional funding for the project from any source, the recipient must notify the CRTC in writing as soon as possible and no later than 10 days after receiving confirmation of the funding. The CRTC may proportionately reduce the amount of funding it has approved
    • If the recipient wishes to withdraw from the Broadband Fund program, it must notify the CRTC in writing as soon as possible. If a recipient withdraws from the program after project costs have been reimbursed, the CRTC may direct the Central Fund Administrator to seek reimbursement of those payments
    • The recipient must ensure that its travel costs, such as meal per diems, comply with the National Joint Council Travel Directive
    • Where a risk of adverse impact on an Aboriginal or treaty right becomes known and a duty to consult exists, the recipient must advise the CRTC within 20 days and submit a plan detailing the form and process for fulfillment of the duty. Release of any additional funding will be contingent on demonstration that any necessary consultations were held to the Crown’s satisfaction
    • The recipient (including each member of a recipient partnership, joint venture, or consortium) must file its annual financial statements with the CRTC upon request
    • The recipient must notify the CRTC of project completion within 10 days of the project completion date
    • The recipient must file a project completion report six months after the project completion date, demonstrating that the project is complete and that all conditions and obligations set out in the CRTC’s decisions related to the project are being met. Holdback funds will be released only once these elements are demonstrated to the CRTC’s satisfaction, provided that the CRTC has approved the final quarterly progress report along with the final claim

4.2.3 Conditions of service (section 24 conditions on the operation of the network)

  1. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-328, the CRTC determined that it would continue imposing, pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, certain conditions regarding the offering and provision of broadband services using facilities funded through the Broadband Fund that would apply once the infrastructure is built. These conditions relate to the speeds and capacity of broadband services provided and the level of retail pricing, reporting, and associated open access service offerings. The conditions imposed on the offering and provision of broadband services will apply to the recipient and to any other Canadian carrier operating the funded infrastructure.
  2. The CRTC may conduct periodic audits and require measurements of the project’s performance to verify compliance with the conditions of funding and the conditions imposed pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act on the provision of services using funded infrastructure. To that end, as a condition of offering and providing telecommunications services using the funded infrastructure, the CRTC requires, pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, that the recipient, or any Canadian carrier operating the funded infrastructure, (i) retain all books, accounts, and records of the project, including administrative, financial, and claim processes and procedures, and any other information necessary to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the decision, for a period of eight years from the project start date; and (ii) provide the CRTC with measurements of the performance of each of the recipient’s implemented projects within five years of the project’s completion date using methodology that the CRTC may determine. The CRTC may request that an external auditor or a CRTC-approved auditor certify any related report, form, or documentation, or that a third-party professional engineer certify any required measurements.
  3. In addition, pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, as a condition of offering and providing telecommunications services using the funded infrastructure, the recipient, or any Canadian carrier operating the funded infrastructure on behalf of the recipient, must:
    • for universal service objective projects, offer and provide fixed broadband Internet access service packages to customers served by the funded infrastructure at a rate no higher, and at speeds and with a capacity no lower, than the ones proposed in the relevant approved statement of work. The packages must be provided for a minimum of five years following the project completion date
    • for universal service objective projects that include funded transport infrastructure, provide transport capacity at each eligible point of presence funded by the Broadband Fund with a total capacity no lower than that proposed in the application and described in the approved statement of work
    • for universal service objective projects that include funded transport infrastructure, offer and provide, in a fair, transparent, timely, and non-discriminatory manner, wholesale and retail open access to the transport infrastructure at each eligible point of presence funded by the Broadband Fund (with the exception of Indigenous recipients, who are exempt from this requirement). Terms and conditions that are the same as or better than those applied to the services of subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners must be applied to other service providers requesting access to project sites. Such wholesale and retail open access services must be offered at rates no higher, and a capacity no lower, than those proposed in the application and detailed in the approved statement of work
    • for projects that increase satellite transport capacity operational costs in satellite-dependent communities, offer and provide fixed broadband Internet access service packages to subscribers within the eligible communities served by the project at a rate no higher, and at speeds and with a capacity no lower, than the ones proposed in its application and described in the approved statement of work for the duration of the funding

5. Distribution of funding

After the CRTC approves the statement of work in a final funding decision, the applicant becomes a recipient. At this point, funding is secured, and the recipient can begin submitting claims for the reimbursement of eligible project costs.

Funding may be distributed through claims for reimbursement or, in certain cases, through upfront funding. Upfront funding is only available to recipients who self-identify as Indigenous in their application, propose a capital project, and request upfront funding in their statement of work.

All payments are made in accordance with the conditions set out in the final funding decision (see section 4.2 for a list of standard funding conditions).

This section explains how funding is distributed (including upfront funding for Indigenous recipients), the claims process, and the holdback applied to ensure compliance.

5.1 Upfront funding for Indigenous recipients

Upfront funding is available for projects proposed by Indigenous applicants (see section 8 for a definition of “Indigenous applicant”) upon request. This upfront funding provides capital for the recipient to secure the required resources related to eligible costs in the initial stages of the project, such as equipment (e.g., routers, switches, or radios), materials, or expertise (i.e., professional services such as engineering, consulting, or project management). Accordingly, upfront funding is only available for capital projects.

Any upfront funding provided must be linked directly to a contract or contracts for such resources. The Indigenous recipient can request the upfront funding amount before submitting its final version of the statement of work, and the contract(s) must be submitted before the final funding decision is issued.

The upfront funding amount will be capped at 15% of the total approved funding, to a maximum of $750,000. Payment of the amount will be provided to the recipient after the CRTC has approved the statement of work in the final funding decision and upon the submission of a claim.

5.2 Claims reporting

As a condition of funding set out in each final funding decision (as listed in section 4.2.2), the recipient must file a claim along with its progress report every three months (or as otherwise approved by the CRTC) after the CRTC issues the final funding decision. Templates will be provided in the recipient’s toolkit, which will be made available after the final funding decision is issued.

The CRTC will verify the claim and the progress report, as applicable, against the approved statement of work and the requirements set out in the relevant funding decisions. Once the eligible costs are verified, the CRTC will direct the Central Fund Administrator to issue the requested payment to the recipient. Payments will be made every three months (or as otherwise approved by the CRTC) after the project start date (see section 8 for a definition of “project start date”) for the eligible costs incurred during the preceding three-month period. The claim must be certified by the recipient’s chief financial officer (CFO) or CFO equivalent or by a delegate and must include supporting documentation (e.g., invoices or receipts,).

Eligible and ineligible costs are listed in section 3 of this Guide.

If a progress report demonstrates a material change (see section 8 for a definition of “material change”) from the approved statement of work for the project, the CRTC may withhold payment(s) until the recipient has received the CRTC’s approval for that change.

5.3 Holdback

The recipient of a capital project must file a project completion report with the CRTC six months after the project completion date (see section 8 for definitions of “project completion report” and “project completion date”). The CRTC may, where appropriate, request that the project completion report be certified by the recipient’s external auditor or by an auditor approved by the CRTC.

The CRTC will retain a holdback of 10% of the amount of funding provided for each project, which it will disburse six months after project completion, provided that:

If any of these requirements have not been met, the CRTC may retain the holdback amount until the recipient demonstrates compliance.

The 10% holdback will not apply to Indigenous recipients whose projects have approved funding of $5 million or less.

6. Confidentiality

As part of the funding process, some information provided by an applicant will be treated as confidential, while other information will be made public. The CRTC will generally keep commercially sensitive details confidential. However, certain information must be disclosed at different stages of the process, such as in funding decisions, reports submitted by recipients, and reports used by the CRTC for monitoring and accountability purposes. The following section explains what information is kept confidential and what information may be made public.

6.1 Confidential information

Under subsection 39(1) of the Telecommunications Act, the following types of information filed with the CRTC can be designated as confidential:

Under this definition, much of the content of applications will likely be considered as financial, commercial, or technical information for which the CRTC would typically uphold confidentiality. This content includes the following:

For the reasons set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-328 (section H, subsection 2 of Appendix 1), Broadband Fund applicants can file their applications confidentially; there is no public process associated with funding applications. The CRTC recognizes the value of confidentiality during the application process and respects applicants’ best interests.

6.2 Disclosure of information

When a conditional funding decision is published, the confidentiality of certain information about the selected project is no longer justified. Such information will need to be included in the conditional funding decision and the final funding decision to ensure transparency. For instance, the following information may be published:

The CRTC will not disclose financial, commercial, or technical information provided in the application that is consistently treated as confidential by the applicant. This includes information such as (i) the applicant’s financial statements; (ii) projected revenues and expenses for the proposed project; (iii) detailed costing of the project; (iv) detailed network information; (v) detailed technical descriptions of the service and network design, including logical network diagrams, logical paths, supporting assumptions, and technical dependencies; (vi) equipment and facilities lists; and (vii) details of provisioning assumptions as filed in the application.

If an applicant objects to the disclosure of information that is not captured within the above list, the Online Intake System will enable the applicant to request confidentiality for that information even if the project is selected for funding.

Where the applicant objects to some or all of the information outlined above being made public as part of the funding decision, the Online Intake System will enable the applicant to identify the specific information that the applicant considers to be confidential (in addition to the information that is consistently treated as confidential under the Telecommunications Act, as set out above) even if the project is selected for funding. The applicant will be required to provide reasons, as well as any supporting documents, to explain why the disclosure of the information in a funding decision or in public reports would not be in the public interest, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from such disclosure would outweigh the public interest.

Once the project is completed, the retail service packages and rates and, if applicable, the wholesale service packages and rates proposed by the recipient and included in the statement of work will be published on the CRTC’s website.

In addition, the recipient will be required to submit information in periodic reports or audits. The CRTC may use some of this information in aggregate form to publicly report on, for example, the number of households connected as a result of funding from the Broadband Fund, which geographic areas have universal-service-objective-level coverage, the amount of funding disbursed to date, and the overall progress of funded projects.

The CRTC is also required, pursuant to subsection 37(3) of the Telecommunications Act, to provide any information the CRTC receives to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development or the Chief Statistician of Canada upon request. This obligation could include the provision of Broadband Fund applications.

The CRTC is further required under the Telecommunications Act to share application information, including project details and application status for submitted applications, with federal departments and agencies that fund telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas, as well as provincial or territorial departments or agencies. Those departments and agencies may use the information only to coordinate financial support for access to telecommunications services in underserved areas. This is in addition to the CRTC’s existing obligation to share information with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and with the Chief Statistician of Canada.

7. Security

The CRTC prioritizes the cybersecurity of any project funded by the Broadband Fund and requires applicants and recipients to show that they have considered, among other things, supply chain security (see section 8 for a definition of “supply chain security”). To that end, information regarding the proposed project provided in the application and supporting documents, as well as any other information provided during the statement of work development phase, may be disclosed to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, which is part of Communications Security Establishment Canada, to assist the CRTC in its review of the project’s security risks.

The CRTC may consider overall cybersecurity, including supply chain security, in making its funding decisions. The CRTC may also require that recipients mitigate cybersecurity risks in their funded projects, and that they do so to the CRTC’s satisfaction.

8. Definitions of key terms

Affected Community: A community, as defined below, that will receive new or improved broadband Internet services, or that is located where infrastructure will be built or upgraded as part of the proposed project. This includes a community that is located directly on the project path, even if it is not receiving services.

Applicant: An entity or a group of entities that submits an application to request funding for a proposed project in response to a call for applications for the Broadband Fund. An applicant becomes a funding recipient, or recipient, upon publication of a final funding decision.

Building broadband infrastructure: Constructing broadband networks or infrastructure through which broadband services will be delivered.

Community: A named place that includes households, businesses, or institutions (e.g., schools, medical facilities, libraries, community halls, First Nations band offices, or other buildings around which a community is formed).

Community representatives: Elected officials, associations, or other representative bodies of a given community.

Conditional funding decision: A decision published by the CRTC to announce a project that is selected for funding. In this type of decision, the CRTC conditionally approves the project for funding and sets out certain requirements that the applicant must meet, such as submitting its statement of work package for CRTC approval, before the project can receive final approval for funding.

Cost per household: The dollar amount of funding requested from the Broadband Fund for a project, divided by the number of eligible households served.

Eligibility date: The date the CRTC issues the conditional funding decision for a project. Project costs incurred on or after this date are eligible for reimbursement. Project costs incurred before this date cannot be claimed for reimbursement and are deemed ineligible (see also “Project start date”).

Final funding decision: A decision published by the CRTC when an applicant has fulfilled the requirements set out in the conditional funding decision to the CRTC’s satisfaction. In this type of decision, the CRTC approves the statement of work and provides final approval for funding for the project. A recipient cannot submit claims for eligible costs incurred for the project until the final funding decision is issued.

Funding recipient or recipient: An applicant whose proposed project has received final funding approval in a final funding decision.

Holdback: A portion (10%) of each recipient’s funding amount that the CRTC withholds until it confirms that the recipient has met or is fulfilling all relevant conditions outlined in the CRTC’s funding decisions for any capital project.

Household: A person or group of persons who occupy the same dwelling.

Indigenous applicant: An eligible applicant that is:

For applicant groups that include an Indigenous partner, that partner must exercise ownership and control over the funded infrastructure.

In-kind contributions: a contribution of goods or services other than cash grants. For the purpose of the Broadband Fund, in-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to, land permits, government infrastructure, equipment, long-term service contracts, assets, infrastructure, access, land donations, staff support, and tax breaks. Applicants can demonstrate in-kind support with general letters, letters of intent detailing the extent of support that will be provided, a service level agreement, or existing relationships with anchor institutions.

Material change: A change in any substantive aspect of the project listed by the CRTC in its reasons for selecting the project, including any change that could affect the project’s eligibility, assessment, implementation timeline, or expected outcomes. For example, (i) a change in control of the recipient; (ii) a change in the proposed financing of the project, including a request for additional funding; (iii) a change in the nature or location of the project; or (iv) a major change in the cost or scope of the project, including an extension of the project completion date.

Official language minority community: Either a community outside the province of Quebec with a French-speaking population where English is predominant, or a community in the province of Quebec with an English-speaking population where French is predominant.

Operating broadband infrastructure: Managing, monitoring, and controlling existing broadband networks or infrastructure through which broadband services are being delivered.

Point of presence: A point in the network that connects transport infrastructure to local access infrastructure and is capable of offering wholesale and/or retail transport services.

Project: The activities described in the application for which funding is being requested, including the establishment of individual project sites.

Project completion date: The date a project is complete, all costs have been incurred, and telecommunications services are being offered. Although the CRTC recognizes that the timing of project implementation will vary, it expects each recipient to aim to complete its capital project and have service available within three years following the conditional funding decision.

Project completion report: A detailed report that a recipient must file with the CRTC six months after the project completion date. This report should demonstrate how the recipient meets the conditions and obligations specified in the conditional funding decision, the approved statement of work, and the final funding decision. It should also include details of the completed project, any project delays, service uptake, and any open access requests.

Project sites: The structures and facilities constructed or otherwise established by the recipient through implementation of the project.

Project start date: The date an applicant proposes to begin implementing its project and incurring eligible costs. This date must be on or after the conditional funding decision is published (the eligibility date) but can be before the publication of the final funding decision. If the applicant incurs project costs before the CRTC issues the conditional funding decision, those costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the Broadband Fund and are at the sole expense of the applicant (see also “Eligibility date”).

Progress report: A report outlining project details, such as the project’s implementation status and an update on the project’s costs. The recipient must file its first progress report after the final funding decision is published. It must file subsequent progress reports every three months thereafter until the project completion date. The Commission has the sole discretion to modify the reporting frequency and will notify the recipient of any changes to the reporting schedule.

Reliable (financially): The trustworthiness of an entity based on the strength of its financial statements. To be reliable, information in a financial statement should be an accurate, verifiable, and faithful representation of an entity’s financial status that is presented neutrally (including the use of conservative estimates under conditions of uncertainty).

Retail open access: Access to funded transport infrastructure available to non-carriers, including end-customers such as businesses, institutions, and other government and non-government organizations.

Satellite-dependent community: A community that relies on satellite transport capacity for one or more telecommunications services such as voice, wireless (both fixed and mobile), and Internet services. This includes communities that receive universal-service-objective-level services through low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

Satellite-dependent community project: An operational project or a capital project to provide improved telecommunications services to a satellite-dependent community.

Solvent: A state of financial soundness whereby an entity can meet its monetary obligations when they fall due.

Statement of work: A report provided by the recipient, after the funding decision is published, that provides the detailed plan for the funded project, including, but not limited to, the following items: total project budget, schedule of the construction phase, list of technology materials, detailed engineer network diagrams, project start and completion dates, work breakdown structures, and list of risks and risk-mitigation strategies.

Supply chain security: The management of risks and threats, including physical and cyber threats, while working with other organizations involved in the supply chain. A security compromise anywhere in the supply chain could allow a cyber threat actor to exploit a device or one of its components once it is connected to a company’s secured network. Supply chains can be compromised before or after the delivery of a product or service, during software updates, or during hardware upgrades.

Universal service objective project: A capital project to build or upgrade broadband infrastructure in an eligible geographic area, including terrestrial transport infrastructure if needed, to achieve the universal service objective in an underserved area that is not considered a satellite-dependent community.

Wholesale open access: The provision of a telecommunications service or facility to a third-party service provider, regardless of whether that service provider rebills the service or facility to another entity or uses it internally to support the services it bills.

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