Since 2018, Clearwater County has undertaken the development of an open access broadband network and associated business plan. The County asked for input from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with the goal of aligning the business plan with both the needs of the Countyβs residents and businesses as well as the current and planned infrastructure and services that ISPs have available within the County.
The objective of this business plan is to guide the Countyβs investment and direction to construct broadband infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of improved broadband services by telecommunication providers in the County.
On March 24, 2023, Clearwater County's Broadband Committee approved the open access backbone network business plan and price list.
Grant Funding Announcements:
PHASE 6 PROJECT FOR NORDEGG AWARDED $3,781,303.00
April 26, 2022, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, announced over $5 million in funding for Clearwater County and Switch Incorporated to bring high-speed Internet to 7,339 households in rural Alberta. Communities that will benefit from this project include Nordegg, Hay Lakes, New Sarepta, Cooking Lake, Collingwood Cove and Tofield. Clearwater County's Phase 6 project for Nordegg was awarded $3,781,303.00 for 242 households.
Click here to read the full news release.