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Telecom Order CRTC 2024-326

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Ottawa, 11 December 2024

Public record: 1011-NOC2022-0325

Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for the Kativik Regional Government’s transport fibre project in northern Quebec

Background

  1. In Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for the Kativik Regional Government’s transport fibre project in northern Quebec, Telecom Decision CRTC 2024-163, 22 July 2024 (Telecom Decision 2024-163), the Commission awarded up to $79,419,117 to the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) for its project to build 933 kilometres of transport fibre infrastructure to connect five Inuit communities in northern Quebec, all of which are official language minority communities.
  2. In accordance with the conditions of approval set out in Telecom Decision 2024-163, KRG confirmed in writing its acceptance of the funding award. On 1 August 2024, KRG submitted its completed statement of work package for Commission approval. A final version of the package was submitted on 3 October 2024.

Commission’s analysis

  1. The Commission finds that the statement of work package does not present any significant variances from the original funding application.
  2. The Commission recognizes that to proceed with a public tender and prevent a project delay, KRG did not list specific equipment and vendors in its statement of work documents but instead provided a general list of the major equipment required.

Conclusion

  1. Having reviewed the documents submitted, the Commission approves the statement of work, subject to the condition set out in the next paragraph.
  2. Within 90 days of its network equipment vendor selection under the public tendering process, KRG must submit updated versions of its project solution workbook, logical network diagram, and project budget workbook. All documents must detail the exact equipment selected through the public tender. The equipment must fall into the generic categories provided by KRG and must not exceed the dollar amount included in the statement of work.
  3. The Commission notes that KRG will be required to submit a change request to the Commission if there are material changes with respect to the details on tendered equipment provided in its updated documents.
  4. The Commission will provide the statement of work separately and in confidence to KRG.
  5. Provided that KRG complies with all conditions of funding set out in Telecom Decision 2024-163, the Commission will direct the Central Fund Administrator to make payments to KRG in respect of the project. Failure to comply with these conditions and requirements could result in funding being delayed or not being disbursed.
  6. KRG is required to submit, quarterly, a progress report and expense claim beginning no later than 11 March 2025 or as otherwise agreed to with the Commission, and every three months thereafter until the project is completed.
  7. Finally, in accordance with the Commission’s determinations in Telecom Decision 2024-163, KRG must offer and provide broadband services using facilities funded through the Broadband Fund once the infrastructure is built, as committed to in its application and described in the approved statement of work with conditions of service established in that decision.

Secretary General

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