CRTC outlines broadband funding, competition measures for rural Canada connectivity

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CRTC rural broadband measures

Highlights

The CRTC is requiring large telephone companies to give competitors access to fibre-to-the-home networks, expanding regional Internet providers into nearly 100 new communities across seven provinces.
Since 2019, the CRTC’s Broadband Fund has supported improved Internet and cellphone service in 318 communities, including 131 Indigenous ones, with new funding decisions expected after a recent fourth call for proposals.
A dedicated Indigenous funding stream and eligibility for network resilience projects will be added to the Broadband Fund, with the second review phase concluding this fall and comments accepted until Dec. 1.

CRTC sets out funding and network strategy

As reported by Canada.ca, CRTC Commissioner Joanne Levy says the regulator is pursuing a two-track strategy for telecommunications, promoting competition where commercial business cases exist and directing public support to harder-to-serve areas where private investment alone may not be viable.

Levy says the CRTC has required large telephone companies to give competitors a workable way to sell Internet services over fibre-to-the-home networks nationwide. She says that approach is encouraging competition, expanding regional providers into nearly 100 new communities across seven provinces and putting downward pressure on prices.

For areas with weaker commercial economics, Levy says the CRTC’s Broadband Fund has supported improved Internet and cellphone service in 318 communities since 2019, including 131 Indigenous communities. The program also backs connectivity for schools, health care facilities and community centres, and improves mobile service along more than 650 kilometres of major roads.

The regulator is now reviewing submissions from the fourth call for proposals, which ended last month and focuses on broadband access in the hardest-to-reach communities and new fibre construction. Levy says funding decisions are expected in the coming months after a broader review of the fund that has already streamlined applications, simplified reporting and reduced barriers for Indigenous applicants.

Affordability, Indigenous access and resilience remain priorities

Levy says the second phase of the Broadband Fund review concludes this fall with two notable changes, a dedicated Indigenous funding stream and eligibility for network resilience projects. The CRTC is accepting comments on the Indigenous stream until Dec. 1 as it seeks more direct participation from affected communities.

She says resilience is becoming more important as outages linked to extreme weather, network damage and other disruptions become more common. The expanded funding scope is meant to support stronger and more reliable last-mile fibre connections so users in remote areas can receive service closer to that available in larger centres such as Montreal and Saskatoon.

The CRTC is also moving to improve telecom data quality by standardizing the network information providers must report and by allowing Canadians to flag places where coverage maps do not match their experience. Levy says the added detail should help governments and carriers identify service gaps more accurately and guide future investment planning.

On consumer policy, Levy says the regulator has recently acted to remove extra fees on Internet and cellphone plans, improve notices on expiring contracts and make it easier for customers to change or cancel service. Rules introduced in September also require clearer information on expected Internet speeds during peak periods, a measure the CRTC says should make plan comparisons easier and support more predictable bills.

Our earlier article on Malaysia’s review of enforcement on foreign product entry into the domestic market explained how the government is tightening coordination to protect fair competition as cross-border e-commerce grows. It also covered work on an e-Commerce Bill and the “Jom Beli Produk Malaysia” initiative, alongside Budget 2027 funding aimed at helping SMEs—especially rural businesses—expand through digital platforms and international markets.

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