The Provincial Government is committed to supporting cellular communications as an economic development enabler and as a contributor to improving the viability of communities. The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced the process to seek proposals to expand wireless coverage in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
To assist with identifying unserved and underserved areas in the province, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology is seeking Expressions of Interest from communities who wish to be considered in the program to improve cellular service. Additional information is available in the backgrounder below.
Communities have until September 15, 2023 to confirm interest in the cellular service program, identify an underserved area, and indicate capacity to contribute financially to the project (normally 10 per cent of total project costs). To ensure the minimum financial contribution requirement is met, partnerships are encouraged among stakeholders such as:
- Municipalities/communities;
- Non-profit community, business, economic or regional development organizations;
- Other non-profit community-oriented organizations, including co-operatives and other social enterprises; and
- Local industry.
A number of communities will be selected from the Expression of Interest that meet the project feasibility criteria.
Following the close of the Expression of Interest, the department will issue a Call for Proposals to cellular providers to address gaps and deficiencies in cellular service infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
A listing of communities identified during the Expressions of Interest will be given to providers interested in submitting proposals during the Call for Proposals phase of the initiative. The department and providers will review each unserved or underserved area identified though the Expressions of Interest, the cellular enhancement feasibility of each area, and related costing to select communities to participate in the initiative.
This is part of the Cellular Service Improvement Initiative, a cost-shared program to encourage partnership to improve connectivity services.
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“The objective of the Cellular Service Improvement Initiative is to primarily target communities that have limited or no access to cellular service. This new expression of interest and subsequent call for proposals will help facilitate new investments in the province’s cellular service infrastructure to improve the business case for telecommunication carriers to expand coverage and provide service to communities that are currently unserved or underserved.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
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BACKGROUNDER
Funding Contributions for Selected Communities
The Cellular Service Improvement Initiative is a cost-shared cellular service funding program. The objective is to encourage service providers, working in partnership with interested communities/municipalities, regional organizations, private sector and other government partners to prepare cost-shared proposals during the Call for Proposals phase with funding parameters of:
- Provincial Government – maximum 40 per cent;
- Cellular service provider – minimum 50 per cent; and
- Community/municipal and other government partners, other private sector, non- profit organizations – remaining 10 per cent.
Successful communities from the Expression of Interest will be notified, provided related project costs, and must verify financial contributions prior to funding being approved for projects. Please note that project implementation timelines may be dependent on provider capital project plans.
Expression of Interest and Questions
Communities wishing to express interest in being considered for the initiative must submit interest in writing, including targeted geographic area, financial contribution probability, any potential partners and overall benefits to the area.
Expressions of Interest can be sent via email to Dion Sheppard, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, at ddsheppa@gov.nl.ca.
The department will provide written confirmation that the Expression of Interest is received/registered once all pertinent information is provided. Results of the Expression of Interest will be provided to applicants once the review is completed in the fall.
Expressions of Interest must be received by no later than September 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. NDT in order to be provided as part of the Call for Proposals to providers.