PEI Broadband Fund for Residents

The PEI Broadband Fund for Residents provides assistance to a resident that does not currently have access to a high-speed internet service provider in their local area. Island residents without access to high-speed internet (up to 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload) may qualify for funding to improve broadband service to their primary residence. 

The PEI Broadband Fund for Residents will cover up to 100% of eligible costs directly related to work completed to improve Internet Service to a maximum value of $5000 per civic address.

Projects with eligible costs of $500 or less may apply without pre-approval, providing proper documents are submitted.* 

Am I eligible for funding?

PEI broadband funding is offered to full-time PEI residents seeking to add or upgrade internet service to their primary residence located in a geographical area where:

• The only available service to the residence is low-speed internet;
• Broadband service exists but is unavailable to the residence due to signal obstruction;
• No internet service is available;
• Current available internet service provided is below the advertised 50 / 10 Mbps. If experiencing internet speed below the advertised service, contact your service provider to discuss solutions; and
• You are the property owner or a leaseholder with the property owner’s approval. 

What activities are supported?

The PEI Broadband Fund for Residents provides financial assistance for costs directly related to work completed to improve internet service speed or provide internet service at a previously un-serviced civic address.  

Eligible project costs are limited to:

• Equipment required to improve internet service speed to the residence, including antennas, tripods, poles, and towers;
• Driveway fibre/cable installation in excess of 300 feet from the main road;
• Standard residential hardware equipment minus connection fee, Wi-fi router/router, ethernet adapters, or modem; 
• Installation of the required equipment by certified third party operators to a maximum of $350 (including tax); and
• Taxes that a resident is not eligible to have refunded.

Other cost-effective solutions may be considered. Please inquire here.

NOTE: Any permit requirements are the sole responsibility of the applicant or contractor.

What activities are NOT supported? 

You are not eligible for funding if you previously received the maximum funding contribution under this program or the PEI Broadband Residential Pilot program. 

• The running of fibre from the main road along a driveway to a residence less than 300 feet; 
• Standard costs for a new customer premises connection, including connection fee, Wi-Fi router/router, ethernet adapters, or modem;
• Any leased equipment; 
• Expenses incurred before April 1, 2021;
• Eligible project costs incurred prior to receipt of an approval email notification, including the purchase of equipment. Innovation PEI may decline any costs not identified in the application and made prior to project approval. 
• Work related to providing internet service at a non-primary residence or non-residential location;
• Work related to providing internet service or boosting an internet signal to multiple dwellings at the civic address and/or to a neighbouring civic address;
• Maintenance, upgrade, or removal of equipment or infrastructure;
• Other items deemed not reasonably related to improving internet speed to the residence; 
• A civic address that has reached its maximum contribution level of $5000;
• Any portion of the cost of an asset that, in the opinion of Innovation PEI, exceeds the fair market value of the asset; 
• Service providers that are NOT 3rd party or certified; and
• Installation costs greater than $350 (including tax). 

If there is a cost-effective solution that will provide significant improvement to your service that does not meet the eligibility requirements, please inquire here. 

What level of assistance is available? 

Approved applicants will receive financial assistance of up to 100% of the eligible project costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per civic address.

What process will be followed to assess your application?

PEI Broadband Fund for Residents is administered by Innovation PEI on behalf of the Province of Prince Edward Island.  There is no administration or application fee charged to applicants.  

All applications will be evaluated on the information supplied and assessed on factors including:

• Completeness;
• Broadband improvement and quality of the proposed service; 
• Eligibility of the applicant, civic address and proposed work; 
• Availability of PEIBF for Residents budget; and

Any expenses incurred before the submission of an application and prior to receipt of an approval email notification are NOT eligible. Applications received for projects occurring in the retroactive period (April 1, 2021 to October 14, 2021) may be eligible subject to meeting the criteria outlined for the PEI Broadband Fund for Residents.

What do I need to apply for this service?

If the cost is $500 or less, to complete the application you will need to provide:

• Resident contact information, including civic address of primary residence, email address, phone number;
• Current internet service provider and internet service speed at the time of installation; and
• An invoice on letterhead from the ISP and either 
  • if the resident paid - proof of payment and a copy of a void cheque, OR 
  • if the resident did not pay - instruction on payment to the ISP made at the time of application.

If the cost is more than $500, an application must be received and approved before the work can begin or equipment is purchased.

• Online submission of an application;
• Resident contact information, including civic address of primary residence, email address, phone number; 
• A quote on letterhead from an ISP including:
  • Itemization of equipment for the proposed work, 
  • Breakdown of each cost, 
  • Total cost of proposed project, 
  • Current internet service (located on your internet bill), and
  • Expected internet service.
     

How do I apply and/or make a claim?

Applications will be received for expenses incurred on or after April 1, 2021.

If the cost is $500 or less, the request for payment can be made by submitting your invoice within six months of your ISP invoice date with the apply/claim now button below.  

Where the cost is more than $500, pre-approval for projects is required by submitting an application with the apply/claim now  button below.  Once you have received an approval email notification from Innovation PEI, your project has been completed, and equipment is installed, you may make your claim.

You will need:

• To submit an online claim using the apply/claim button below.  
  • If you did not pay the invoice, submit the ISP invoice outlining:  
    • Itemization of equipment used on the project;
    • Breakdown of each cost;
    • Total cost of project work to be completed; and
    • Identification of internet speed upon completion of the installation.
       
  • If you paid the ISP invoice, 
    • Submit the ISP Invoice that includes the information outlined above;
    • Proof of payment;
    • Copy of a void cheque for direct deposit to your bank account; and
    • Verify eligible project costs have been incurred and paid.

*Submit your claim within six months of the ISP invoice date.

When is the deadline for your claim for projects over $500? 

Once the project is approved and completed (over $500), the request for payment must be made no later than six months after the ISP invoice date.

What are the terms and conditions of the application and funding? 

View the full terms and conditions.

Do you have questions? 

Contact: myinternet@gov.pe.ca

You can view our frequently asked questions.

Last updated: January 3, 2023