Latest Developments in Clearwater County's Broadband Internet Project
After over two decades of planning, Clearwater County's ambitious Broadband Internet Project is now officially underway in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the county's efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural Alberta. The project, which has received substantial funding commitments from multiple levels of government, aims to deliver high-speed internet connectivity to thousands of residents and businesses across the county.
Current Project Status
As of March 2025, Clearwater County has officially recommitted to investing in and owning a high-speed internet broadband network that will significantly reduce the digital divide in the region15. The project is now progressing from planning to active implementation phase, with the county having launched a dedicated information hub to keep residents informed about developments5. This initiative forms part of the Core Backbone Broadband Internet Plan 2020-2025, a comprehensive six-stage project that will utilize a combination of over 360 kilometers of fiber-optic cable and wireless towers to provide connectivity throughout the county9.
In December 2024, the Clearwater County Council approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets, allocating $43.6 million specifically for broadband infrastructure development1618. This represents one of the largest capital investments in the county's budget for the year, highlighting the priority status of the project.
Funding and Investment Structure
The Clearwater County Broadband Project is being funded through a combination of federal, provincial, and municipal resources. The Universal Broadband Fund, a Canadian federal initiative, provides the primary funding with additional support from the Alberta provincial government2. According to recent announcements, grants from the federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Government of Alberta (GoA) will fund up to 75% of the project costs5.
In June 2024, the federal and provincial governments announced a combined investment of $153 million to connect more than 14,400 rural homes across Alberta to high-speed internet1. Of this amount, approximately $68 million was directed specifically toward the Clearwater County region10. Earlier that same month, it was revealed that Arcadis (under its Woven Smart Arcadis Solutions business) had helped Clearwater County secure CDN $62 million in five separate grants from these government initiatives7.
Implementation Approach and Timeline
The rollout of Clearwater County's internet plan will follow a methodically phased approach, divided into five stages that will combine fiber-optic cable and wireless towers to provide comprehensive high-speed internet connectivity throughout the county6. This staged approach was determined as part of the Core Backbone Broadband Internet Plan 2020-2025, which was approved by the County Council in October 20209.
A key feature of the network design is that it will operate as an Open Access platform—a shared infrastructure allowing multiple service providers to offer their services over the same fiber network2. This approach gives users the freedom to choose from various service providers and packages, which can potentially lower costs for consumers while improving service quality through increased competition6.
For the technical implementation, Clearwater County has selected Woven Smart Arcadis Solutions to design and project manage the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network7. This critical partnership will help ensure the successful deployment of infrastructure that meets current needs while being adaptable to future technological developments.
Community Engagement Initiatives
The county has emphasized community involvement throughout the project's development. Starting in spring 2025, Clearwater County will host multiple Open Houses and virtual events to engage with residents and share project updates26. These consultation sessions will provide valuable opportunities for residents to learn more about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback on implementation plans.
To facilitate ongoing communication, the county recently launched a new online information hub, ensuring residents have easy access to the latest updates and project details5. This platform serves as a central resource for community members interested in following the project's progress.
Expected Benefits and Impact
The Broadband Internet Project is expected to deliver numerous benefits to Clearwater County residents and businesses. Fiber-optic internet is described as "future-proof" and will meet the demands of a modern society while reducing the digital divide for county residents2. The technology offers significant advantages, including high speeds, reliability, security, and scalability2.
As a community-owned network, the revenues generated will be reinvested locally, ensuring that ownership and control remain with Clearwater County residents6. This self-sustaining model is designed to pave the way for business growth and improved services across the region.
Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, highlighted the economic benefits, noting that increased connectivity will allow businesses started by local families to remain in the area, while also attracting new businesses to the beautiful Clearwater County region10.
Conclusion
The Clearwater County Broadband Internet Project represents a significant investment in rural infrastructure that aims to address long-standing connectivity challenges. After years of planning and securing necessary funding, 2025 marks the beginning of active implementation that will progressively bring high-speed internet to homes and businesses throughout the county.
With substantial financial commitments from all levels of government, a clear phased implementation strategy, and ongoing community engagement, the project is well-positioned to transform digital connectivity in the region. As implementation progresses throughout 2025 and beyond, Clearwater County residents can look forward to increasing access to reliable, high-speed internet service that will support education, healthcare, economic development, and quality of life in rural Alberta.
Citations:
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/local-news/federal-provincial-governments-invest-in-expansion-of-high-speed-internet-7389116
- https://centralalbertaonline.com/articles/high-speed-internet-coming-to-clearwater-county
- https://www.wtsp.com/article/entertainment/events/mlk-day-events-st-pete-tampa/67-18c025e5-89b1-4760-a514-567e1eb0f1b4
- https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-fire-belleair-road-woman-hospitalized/67-a9a4183c-574c-4c78-be32-1c50c50cba15
- https://945rewindradio.ca/2025/01/30/clearwater-county-to-move-forward-with-broadband-project-in-2025-launches-new-website/
- https://market.cwcbb.ca/d/Show/About
- https://www.arcadis.com/en/news/global/2024/7/woven-selected-to-design-broadband-network
- https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/teen-hit-car-bike-clearwater-high/67-094194a0-3f3b-4f4d-be8e-bdb9931c349f
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/p/broadband-faq
- https://rdnewsnow.com/2024/06/17/feds-province-announce-high-speed-internet-investment-in-clearwater-county-region/
- https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/news/local-news/rural-alberta-receives-153m-for-high-speed-internet-120-communities-to-benefit
- https://www.myclearwater.com/My-Government/0-City-Departments/Emergency-Management/Latest-Storm-Information
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/p/broadband-business-plan
- https://www.rmoutlook.com/stoney-nakoda/province-approves-broadband-funding-for-remote-stoney-nakoda-community-5910369
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/broadband
- https://centralalbertaonline.com/articles/clearwater-county-approves-2025-operating-and-capital-budgets
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/federal-provincial-rural-broadband-expansion-rolling-out-slowly-in-alberta-1.7317901
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/home/clearwater-county-budget-reflects-tax-revenue-boost-7728501
- https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/new-clearwater-library-in-sarnia-is-open-for-business
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/p/broadband-background
- https://www.arcadis.com/en-ca/news/global/2024/7/woven-selected-to-design-broadband-network
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/p/fibre-to-the-home-1
- https://market.cwcbb.ca
- https://www.clearwatercounty.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=68a34519-e305-4f26-b9f8-bdfd29463db0
- https://rsgtelecom.com/clearwater-county/
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/rocky-mountain-house-rcmp-turn-to-public-for-help-in-search-for-missing-man/
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/tampa-international-airport-still-faces-155200852.html
- https://945rewindradio.ca/2025/01/15/clearwater-county-approves-new-2025-budget-to-reflect-caroline-amalgamation/
- https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2024/06/backgrounder-governments-of-canada-and-alberta-to-bring-high-speed-internet-access-to-communities-across-the-province.html
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