In Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-242, issued Sept. 16, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission added network-resiliency projects as an eligible Broadband Fund project type. For communities with only one terrestrial transport route, a project must create a second route with similar or greater capacity that is geographically or technologically different. For satellite-dependent communities, the policy allows a second diverse satellite backhaul connection using new ground-station equipment. Source↗

Nunavut communities can be especially exposed when a single connection fails. The policy gives the CRTC a way to fund infrastructure intended to reduce that single-point-of-failure risk, including alternatives for satellite-dependent communities. Applicants would need to show outage risks and impacts, including effects on home phone, internet, mobile and emergency services. The Commission says it will give more favourable consideration to projects serving rural, remote, hard-to-reach or road-isolated communities. Source↗

The policy says resiliency projects will be assessed when they are included in future Broadband Fund calls. It does not identify eligible Nunavut communities, announce a local project, name applicants or award money. The current fourth Broadband Fund call has an Oct. 15, 2026 application deadline, but the CRTC decision does not say that call includes the new resiliency-project category. Separately, the CRTC has extended the intervention deadline for its proposed Indigenous Broadband Fund stream to Dec. 1, 2026. Source↗ Source↗

The CRTC kept the fund's annual distribution cap at $150 million. It also deferred a decision on expanding operational funding beyond the existing exception for improving satellite transport capacity in satellite-dependent communities. The decision was approved by majority vote and includes a dissenting opinion. Proceeding: public record 1011-NOC2023-0089; decision: Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-242. Source↗