Broadband Internet benefits rural and remote communities by bringing them, among other things, education resources, better health services and more economic opportunities. In 2016, acknowledging its importance, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) declared that broadband Internet amounted to an essential service and adopted minimal performance standards across Canada: 50 megabit per second download and 10 megabit per second upload. The CRTC currently collaborates with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to fund broadband deployment in rural and remote areas. However, the evidence presented to the Committee by a variety of stakeholders shows that the digital divide remains prominent in Canada, and that the CRTC targets may not be appropriate to all rural and remote areas.

Increasing and improving broadband Internet access in rural and remote areas face many challenges. Indeed, licensed incumbents tend to only invest in high density areas that are more economically profitable. However, small providers, non-profit providers or non‑incumbent providers could deploy broadband Internet in rural and remote areas in an economically profitable manner should the Government of Canada adapt the regulatory framework to their means, especially with regards to spectrum and network management, along with funding allocation.

To facilitate broadband deployment in rural and remote communities, the Committee recommends, notably that the Government of Canada consider ways to increase the accessibility of funding programs for small providers, non-profit providers and non‑incumbent providers, and consider the spectrum allocation process for the purpose of broadband deployment. The Committee also recommends that ISED develop a comprehensive rural broadband strategy in collaboration with key stakeholders.