June 14, 2024

Clearwater County Secures Game-Changing Grants for Cutting-Edge Broadband Project for Residents and Businesses

(Rocky Mountain House, AB) –  Following the hard work of the Broadband Committee and after a long wait and anticipation, Clearwater County has been awarded five substantial grants from Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) Canada and the Government of Alberta. The awarded grants, covering up to 75% of project cost, mark a transformative step in realizing Clearwater County’s vision for a state-of-the-art fibre network connecting homes and businesses directly to the County’s Core Backbone.

Clearwater County will soon embark on the next step of the program, encompassing a comprehensive public awareness campaign, research initiatives, advertising efforts, and policy and budget discussions with the Clearwater County Broadband Committee and Council. Clearwater County is committed to keeping residents and other stakeholders informed throughout the process, and updates will be readily available on our County’s website and official social media channels.

More information will be shared as it becomes available or finalized.

“Through dedicated efforts, Administration has played a crucial role in realizing Council’s vision for this project. This announcement signifies an incredible opportunity for Clearwater County, and we are excited about the positive influence that improved connectivity will bring to our valued residents, businesses, and overall economic prosperity,” said Reeve Michelle Swanson. “Our commitment in finalizing the essential details and information will be shared as it becomes available. Together, we are forging a brighter, more connected future for Clearwater County.”

Learn more about Clearwater County’s Broadband project at: www.clearwatercounty.ca/broadband

Read the full list of grant recipients at: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en

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Background:

• Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to broadband at speeds of at least 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload, and that mobile wireless coverage is available where Canadians live and work, and along major road corridors.
• The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $3.225-billion federal government program that supports high-speed internet projects across the country and is key to implementing the Alberta Broadband Strategy. Applications to the UBF were accepted until March 15, 2021 and are now being evaluated.
• The governments of Alberta and Canada are jointly investing more than $112 million to improve access to high-speed internet for more than 22,500 households across rural and Indigenous communities in Alberta
• The Alberta Broadband Strategy identifies opportunities and challenges of improving access to broadband by allocating $36 million to the Alberta Broadband Fund and has made a joint commitment of $780 million with the federal government to improve access to high-speed internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• Government of Alberta News Release: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=90519EDEB225E-BCE3-B526-17C79B596DE867C3
• Government of Canada News Release: https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2024/06/expanding-high-speed-internet-access-in-alberta.html

Media Inquiries:

communications@clearwatercounty.ca

403-845-4444