Executive summary

We are working to bring access to high-speed internet to every community across the province by the end of 2025.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Infrastructure Ontario has developed the fourth iteration of the Building Broadband Faster Act guideline, in partnership with stakeholders and partner ministries, to expedite the delivery of designated high-speed internet projects.

Revision history

The guideline was first released on November 30, 2021, and updated on August 4, 2022, August 14, 2023 and January 28, 2025 to reflect new legislation, regulations and processes that have been put in place since the beginning of the broadband program.

Together these changes will help stakeholders develop and deliver high-speed internet projects faster by streamlining processes and removing barriers that may result in additional costs and delays.

Key sections of the guideline

In summary, the updated guideline:

  • provides guidance on expediting negotiations over municipal right of way access
  • describes updated instructions for municipalities when engaging with internet service providers (ISPs) to reduce delays and costs for broadband construction and deployment
  • includes components for consideration when developing municipal access agreements
  • summarizes Hydro One’s updated technical bulletin to optimize make-ready work
  • summarizes Bell Canada technical updates to optimize make ready work
  • further describes the role of the Technical Assistance Team (TAT), including additional guidance and resources on rail crossings, easements and multiple ISPs on the same running line
  • summarizes Infrastructure Ontario’s Rural Optimization for Accelerated Deployment (ROAD) report, which provides industry best practices to municipalities and ISPs to promote accelerated underground broadband deployment
  • summarizes Infrastructure Ontario’s Process Optimization for Lashing to Electric poles (POLE), which details strategies to avoid and defer make-ready work when lashing fibre to electric utility owned poles 

Who uses the guideline

This guideline is meant to be used by stakeholders involved in provincially funded high-speed internet projects, which may include:

  • local distribution companies (LDC)
  • internet service providers (ISP)
  • telecommunications service providers (TSPs)
  • Ontario One Call and their respective members
  • dedicated locators
  • municipalities

It will also be of interest to other parties, including:

Disclaimer

If you require this information in an alternative format, please email broadband@ontario.ca. We will:

  • acknowledge your request within three business days
  • provide you with the content within 15 business days