CRTC improves Broadband Fund to help protect Canadians from service outages

Today, the CRTC is improving the Broadband Fund to help protect Canadians from Internet and cellphone service outages.

September 16, 2026—Gatineau—Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

Today, the CRTC is improving the Broadband Fund to help protect Canadians from Internet and cellphone service outages.

Through the Broadband Fund, the CRTC contributes to a broad effort by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to connect underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. To date, the CRTC has helped improve high-speed Internet and cellphone services in more than 320 communities — including 135 Indigenous communities — connecting essential institutions such as schools, health care facilities, and community centres.

Outages can have harmful effects on people, especially when they cannot connect to emergency services in times of need. Following a broad public consultation, the Broadband Fund will now support projects that reduce the risk and impact of outages. These projects will help make Internet and cellphone services more reliable, including during severe weather and other emergencies.

Today’s decision is part of the CRTC’s ongoing work to improve the Broadband Fund and make it faster and easier to get Canadians connected to reliable Internet and cellphone services.

“Reliable Internet and cellphone services are important to Canadians. By supporting projects that improve network reliability, we are helping reduce service outages so Canadians can stay connected when they need it most.”

- Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC