The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is developing a separate Indigenous stream within its Broadband Fund. The proposed stream is meant to reduce barriers for Indigenous applicants seeking support for internet and cellphone infrastructure.

The CRTC originally set Sept. 18, 2026 as the deadline for interventions. In a Sept. 17 procedural update, it moved that deadline to Dec. 1, 2026 and extended the reply deadline from Dec. 18, 2026 to March 2, 2027. The proceeding number is 2026-47 and the public-record number is 1011-NOC2026-0047. Source↗ Source↗

The earlier notice says the CRTC is seeking views on who should qualify, whether existing funding and assessment rules should change, and what would make the fund more workable for Indigenous applicants. It specifically asks whether rules for satellite-dependent community projects should be modified for the Indigenous stream. Source↗ Source↗

The consultation could affect the rules for future Inuit-led telecommunications proposals, including the costs, application process and ownership conditions that applicants face. The CRTC says its goal is to reduce barriers and help close connectivity gaps affecting Indigenous communities.

However, this is a rule-making consultation, not an application intake or funding award. It does not create a Nunavut project, guarantee money for Inuit organizations, or confirm that any service improvement will be built. Source↗ Source↗

First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations, communities, governments and other interested parties can file interventions by Dec. 1, 2026. Only parties that submit an intervention by that date may take part in later stages. Replies to issues raised in the intervention stage are due March 2, 2027. The CRTC says Indigenous people and organizations that need help submitting comments, including oral interventions, can contact its Indigenous Relations Team. Source↗ Source↗

The original notice says the current Broadband Fund policy already includes measures intended to reduce barriers for Indigenous recipients, including possible upfront funding of up to 15 per cent of an approved award, capped at $750,000; training support for local Indigenous staff for up to two years; and removal of the 10-per-cent holdback for approved projects of $5 million or less. The consultation is asking whether further changes are needed for a dedicated Indigenous stream. Source↗ Source↗

The CRTC published a South Baffin Inuktitut summary of the original consultation notice. Source↗ Source↗