PEI Broadband Fund for Internet Service Providers
The Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund provides financial assistance to local Prince Edward Island internet service providers (ISPs), communities and businesses for the installation of infrastructure for enhanced broadband services.
The Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund (PEIBF) provides a contribution of up to 50% of the eligible costs for a project approved for funding.
Offered by Innovation PEI
Amount
Up to 50% of the eligible costs
Up to 50% of the eligible costs of the approved project; total grant contribution from all Government of Prince Edward Island sources cannot exceed 50%
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Applications must be submitted prior to the start of a project; any expenses incurred before the submission of an application are ineligible.
You may be eligible to access the Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund (PEIBF) if you are:
- An ISP that is installing broadband infrastructure that will provide improved access of 50/10 to underserved civic addresses and/or provide an increased level of service and/or improved consumer choice;
- A corporation, either for profit or not-for-profit, that is incorporated in Canada and:
- Is registered to do business in the province of Prince Edward Island;
- Is registered as a Telecommunications provider with the CRTC;
- A Canadian provincial, territorial or municipal entity;
- An Indigenous entity including:
- A profit or non-profit organization run by and for First Nations, Metis, or Inuit peoples;
- A band council within the meaning of section 2 of the Indian Act (Canada);
- An indigenous government authority established by a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement;
- A public sector body that is established by statute or by regulation or is wholly owned by a province, municipal or regional government which provides services to communities; or
- A partnership, joint venture or consortium that is composed of parties identified in (a), (b), (c) and/or (d) above;
And, that:
- Builds owns and operates broadband infrastructure; or
- Enters into a contractual arrangement with an entity identified in (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above to design, build, own and operate broadband infrastructure
Support is provided for increased service levels of 50/10. Any elements or areas of a project that propose to overbuild existing services that offer 50/10 speeds may be removed from the final project upon review. Any projects proposing to overbuild existing services to any degree may be assessed less favourably relative to competing proposals that do not.
A project may be eligible for support through the fund where costs will be incurred for broadband network construction and deployment, including “last mile” and/or backbone infrastructure. This program seeks to reduce duplication and overbuild of existing broadband network infrastructure. Costs associated with uneconomic excess capacity and overbuilding existing broadband infrastructure may not be considered. Applicants must be in good standing with the Government of Prince Edward Island.
The applicant must demonstrate that all remaining financing is in place, contracted, and sufficient to see the project through to its completion.
About the funding
The Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund (PEIBF) provides a contribution of up to 50% of the eligible costs for a project approved for funding.
The contribution from PEIBF is to a maximum of 50% of the eligible costs of the approved project. The maximum, total grant contribution from all Government of Prince Edward Island sources cannot exceed 50%. Loans or other repayable contributions are not included within this calculation. Where a project receives any other grant funding from the Government of Prince Edward Island, the contribution from PEIBF may be reduced.
Once Innovation PEI has determined that all required documentation has been received and validated the value of the payment available from the PEIBF, it will issue payment to the applicant via cheque or electronic funds transfer.
For the PEIBF, payments will be claimed at three key milestones: (1) Planning, (2) Construction, and (3) Completion.
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Eligible costs are those direct costs that can be specifically identified and measured as having been required and incurred to implement and complete the project including, but not limited to:
- Direct Labour Costs, meaning the portion of gross wages or salaries incurred for work;
- Direct Material Costs, including passive supplies such as coaxial cable, copper wire, patch cords, fibre termination equipment, outdoor cabinets, and conduits;
- Direct Equipment Costs, including fibre optic cable, servers, switches, repeaters, radio equipment, backbone, back-up power supplies, last mile network towers/poles, shelters, and network broadband connectivity equipment including upgrades;
- Other Direct Costs, meaning those applicable direct costs not falling within the prior categories, but that are necessary for the physical infrastructure; and;
- Any 3rd party labour or components secured for the project must be billed directly from the vendor delivering the labour or components to the proponent identified in this RFP unless otherwise agreed upon with IPEI.
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