Closed
Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream
Rapid funding stream improving rural and remote household Internet access
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 5,000,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Canada
Overview
The Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream provided up to $5 million per project to rapidly improve household access to high‑speed Internet in rural and remote areas below the 50/10 Mbps standard. Funding supported shovel‑ready broadband projects, including deployment of physical infrastructure and last‑mile connectivity to targeted households.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Deployment of new broadband infrastructure to connect households in rural and remote areas that currently lack 50/10 Mbps Internet service.
- Expansion or upgrade of existing broadband projects to quickly improve household Internet speeds in underserved communities.
- Shovel-ready broadband projects that can connect most targeted households to high-speed Internet in the very short term.
- Broadband projects focused exclusively on improving household connectivity, including last‑mile connections to residences.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit corporations incorporated in Canada
- Canadian provincial, territorial or municipal entities
- Band Councils and Indigenous government authorities
- Non-federal public sector bodies
Who is not eligible
There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant. The following entities are not eligible:
- Individuals
- Foreign entities
Eligible expenses
- Customer premises equipment required to make high-speed Internet access available to households (for example, satellite terminals).
Eligible geographic areas
- Organizations located anywhere in Canada, including all provinces and territories, as this is a federal program administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
- Projects serving rural and remote areas of Canada where Internet service speeds have not yet reached 50/10 Mbps, as identified on the National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map.
Additional information
- The Rapid Response Stream is now closed and is no longer accepting applications; the intake period ended on January 15, 2021.
- The stream was created to address urgent connectivity needs arising from the COVID‑19 pandemic by increasing household access to adequate Internet services.
- Applications were assessed on a rapid, rolling basis, meaning earlier, complete submissions had a higher likelihood of being selected.
- Reasonable efforts were made to ensure regional diversity and to make funding available to Indigenous communities, depending on the applications received.
Documents and links
Frequently Asked Questions about the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream?
The Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream provided up to $5 million per project to rapidly improve household access to high‑speed Internet in rural and remote areas below the 50/10 Mbps standard. Funding supported shovel‑ready broadband projects, including deployment of physical infrastructure and last‑mile connectivity to targeted households.
How much funding can be received?
Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream Funds up to $5,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream program?
To be eligible for the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream program, you must:
Applicant must be a Canadian non-profit, for-profit corporation, public sector body, Indigenous government/authority, or a partnership of these entities.
Must demonstrate capacity to develop broadband networks within program timelines in areas below 50/10 Mbps.
New or scalable broadband projects must require public funding support and exclude costs for activities already underway.
What expenses are eligible under Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream?
Deployment of new broadband infrastructure to connect households in rural and remote areas that currently lack 50/10 Mbps Internet service.
Expansion or upgrade of existing broadband projects to quickly improve household Internet speeds in underserved communities.
Shovel-ready broadband projects that can connect most targeted households to high-speed Internet in the very short term.
Broadband projects focused exclusively on improving household connectivity, including last‑mile connections to residences.
Where is the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream available?
The Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream program is available across Canada.
Is the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream?
Universal Broadband Fund — Rapid Response Stream is funded by Innovation Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Government of Canada