OTTAWA, April 21, 2021 - The budget announcement on April 19 was excellent news. In confirmation of their September 2020 Throne Speech, the Liberal government has topped-up the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) with an additional $1 billion investment. These funds will further extend the reach and service levels of Canada’s internet.
Jonathan Black, Executive Director of CanWISP, noted that “CanWISP members look forward to leveraging this additional funding with their own capital to extend the reach of their existing networks as well as increase the capacity and service levels they are delivering to their mostly rural customers. “
CanWISP members understand the digital divide between urban and rural Canadians. Their rural friends and neighbors continue to lag behind the connectivity levels enjoyed by urban Canadians. CanWISP looks forward to details on how these new funds will be incorporated into the UBF funds and processes.
CanWISP (Canadian Association of Wireless Internet Service Providers / Association des fournisseurs de service internet sans fil)
CanWISP represents Canadian Wireless Internet Service Providers. We participate in legislative, regulatory and policy-informing processes on behalf of our member ISPs. Our members provide fixed-wireless Internet access to households and business across Canada on networks that they have built, operate and maintain. Our members live in, invest in, and employ people in the predominantly rural communities they serve. Visit www.canwisp.ca for further information.
