The federal government is adding $750 million in new funding to the program, announced in the 2019 federal budget, bringing it to a total of $1.75 billion. It has also finalized a $600-million agreement with Ottawa-based Telesat for access to its forthcoming low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation; the two sides announced a memorandum of understanding for the transaction in July 2019. (The Logic)

Talking point: Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef said the new fast-track scheme—which will back projects that can be in service by Nov. 15, 2021—is a response to municipalities’ pandemic-induced calls to accelerate the UBF’s rollout. The federal government will also provide more guidance to mayors’ offices and councils through the application process; Monsef suggested COVID-19 responses ate up bandwidth, delaying the launch of the UBF, which was “ready to go in March.” Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will also go in on “large-impact projects” with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which last month allocated $2 billion for broadband loans. Telesat, meanwhile, has the certainty of capital to start funding a LEO constellation that is likely to cost billions, amid stiff competition from SpaceX, Amazon and others.