Will update OP when new info comes along.Telus aims to bridge digital divide with $9.95 Internet for low-income families in AlbertaTelus Corp. will expand its pilot program that offers affordable Internet to low-income families, a move that comes as the federal government tries to tackle the problem of affordable access to broadband.The Vancouver-based telecommunications giant announced Thursday that it will offer its 25 Mbps plan that usually costs about $50 per month for $9.95 per month to 15,000 single-parent families in Alberta that receive income or disability assistance. It offers a similar plan in B.C. to qualifying families, with its competitor Rogers Communications Inc. offering a comparable program in Ontario and Eastern Canada.“It’s part of our commitment to bridge the digital divide and really address what we feel are digital inequalities in our society,” Telus vice president of community Jill Schnarr said in an interview, emphasizing how crucial Internet access can be for students to do their homework.The offer comes as the industry awaits an imminent decision from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on whether to qualify broadband as a basic service – a designation that could include funding mechanisms that would ding Internet service providers.It also comes as the federal government mulls slapping some sort of tax on Internet service providers to support Canadian content. The heritage minister said this idea isn’t off the table even though the cost would be passed on to consumers, although the minister for Innovation, Science and Economic Development said affordable Internet access is one of his top priorities for the communications industry, whether it’s in rural or remote areas or in urban centres.