Access to reliable broadband is critical to the development of any community. This is particularly true in rural municipalities which are often located far from services such as banks and educational institutions.
Both the Government of Canada and Government of Alberta have recently recognized the importance of broadband access. In the 2016 federal budget, the Government of Canada committed up to $500 million towards enhancing rural broadband access, although the details of how the funding will be allocated are not yet available. The government of Alberta is expected to review the purpose and effectiveness of the Alberta SuperNet in connecting Alberta’s communities prior to signing a new contract for a SuperNet provider in 2018.
In advance of these federal and provincial initiatives, the AAMDC would like to gather member input on broadband – specifically the role that rural municipalities play in investing in broadband infrastructure and other strategies to attract ISPs to rural areas, and how rural municipalities perceive the role, effectiveness, and future purpose of the Alberta SuperNet.
To gather this information, the AAMDC has developed a surveyfor members to complete. The survey is divided into two main sections: “Municipalities and Broadband Development” and “Municipalities and the Alberta SuperNet.”
Completion of this survey will be very important to helping the AAMDC understand member priorities related broadband development and the Alberta SuperNet, and will strengthen the AAMDC’s advocacy efforts on both fronts.
To complete the survey, click here. The deadline for completion is July 8, 2016.
Enquiries may be directed to:
| Wyatt Skovron Policy Analyst 780.955.4096 |
Kim Heyman Director, Advocacy and Communications 780.955.4079 |