Saskatchewan Broadband Action Committee - April 2024

SBAC Presentation Saskatchewan Broadband Action Committee April 2024 Agenda • Introduction • Overview of SBAC & Membership • Our Understanding of the SK Context • 2022 Broadband Survey Findings • A ‘Proposed’ Investment Framework • Key Recommendations • Roundtable Q&A Saskatchewan Broadband Action Committee (SBAC) Background & Purpose The Saskatchewan Broadband Advisory Committee is a cross-sector. [...] Plan Continued Municipal and First Nations Community leaders have shared their frustrations with Loss of the Committee regarding the growing gap in connectivity, its impact on Investment community innovation, and a continued loss of investment and business opportunities to other neighbouring provinces. [...] Improved regional and Indigenous collaboration, and stakeholder partnerships 2023 Key Recommendations The Saskatchewan Broadband Action Committee is recommending the following key recommendations be adopted by the Province of Saskatchewan: 1. [...] Development of a $50.0M to $100.0M infrastructure development fund to achieve the following: • Incentivize industry to expand their reach to areas and communities that Internet Services Providers consider non-viable economic areas of the province; and, • Renewal and improvement of the existing broadband infrastructure 4. [...] With respect to Broadband Infrastructure Funding, SBAC strongly recommends the following directives: • That the Federal Government get beyond funding based on a percentage of population; and, • Immediately begin to release much needed broadband funding from the UBF in order for our local ISPs to continue with vital investment in broadband infrastructure.