Search

Telecom Order CRTC 2024-16

PDF version

Reference: 2021-48

Ottawa, 17 January 2024

Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372

Broadband Fund – Change request – Rogers Communications Canada Inc.’s Ontario transport fibre project

  1. In Telecom Decision 2021-48, the Commission approved Rogers Communications Canada Inc.’s (RCCI) funding application to construct and upgrade transport infrastructure in Bruce Station, Ontario. The Commission later received written acceptance of this funding award from RCCI and approved RCCI’s related statement of work in Telecom Order 2021-401, subject to the conditions of funding set out in Telecom Decision 2021-48.
  2. Among the conditions of funding is the requirement, set out at paragraph 13 of Telecom Decision 2021-48, that any material changes to the project be approved by the Commission. In the Application Guide appended to Telecom Notice of Consultation 2019-372, the Commission defined a material change as including a major change in the cost or scope of a project. That notice initiated the second call for applications and led to Telecom Decision 2021-48 and other decisions introduced in Telecom Decision 2021-43.
  3. On 22 August 2023, RCCI submitted a change request for its project approved in Telecom Decision 2021-48. Upon discovery of asbestos at one of the project sites, RCCI indicated that additional time is needed to mitigate accordingly. RCCI requested an additional six months to complete the project. This would not disturb the Commission’s expectation set out in Telecom Decision 2021-48 that the project be completed within three years of the date of that decision.
  4. The Commission has reviewed the materials submitted and factors described. The Commission underlines the importance of addressing connectivity gaps quickly by completing Broadband Fund projects in a timely manner.Footnote 1However, the Commission considers that, under the circumstances, approving the change request would satisfy the objectives identified by the approach set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-377.
  5. The Commission therefore approves RCCI’s change request. All funding conditions and conditions imposed under section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, as set out in Telecom Decision 2021-48, continue to apply, including the Commission’s expectation that the project will be completed within three years of the date of that decision.

Secretary General

Related documents

Date modified: