The CRTC announced last week it has approved more than $14 million in funding via its Broadband Fund for CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. to build approximately 253 kilometres of fibre infrastructure to bring high-capacity transport services to two communities in northern British Columbia and one in southern Yukon.
Totalling approximately 113 households, the three communities to benefit from the project are Jade City and Good Hope Lake (Dease River) in B.C. and Upper Liard in the Yukon. The project is expected to improve access to reliable and high-quality internet service.
“We are taking action to help ensure that all Canadians have access to high-quality communications services,” CRTC chairperson and CEO Vicky Eatrides said in a Jan. 30 press release. “The project announced today will have a positive impact on three communities in British Columbia and the Yukon. This will help improve access to health care and education, and create new economic opportunities.”
The CRTC has been conducting a Broadband Fund policy review, announcing in December 2024 it has streamlined the Broadband Fund application evaluation process.
The commission said in its press release it will issue more decisions as part of its policy review and, later this year, it will launch the Indigenous Stream of the Broadband Fund.
