CRTC expands Broadband Fund to outage-resilience projects

The CRTC has expanded its Broadband Fund to support projects intended to reduce the risk and impact of Internet and mobile service outages.

Eligible resilience projects can address threats including severe weather and other emergencies. The current call for proposals is open until October 15, 2026.

The regulator says previously supported projects are expected to connect 54,000 homes, improve mobile coverage along 650 kilometres of roads and add 6,000 kilometres of fibre. It also says the fund has improved services in 320 communities, including 135 Indigenous communities.

Those figures describe the fund’s existing portfolio. Approval and timing for projects submitted under the new resilience stream will depend on the CRTC’s assessment process.

Source

CRTC: Broadband Fund resilience announcement, published September 16, 2026.