Submission to the Federal Consultation on Options for Foreign Investment Restrictions in the Telecommunications Sector

Summary: The area of sovereignty and national security needs to be addressed well before any attempt is made to change those sections of the Telecommunications Act which protect Canadian ownership of telecommunications interests. There are many models of telecommunications ownership which should be considered beyond the three offered in the consultation paper.

by Marita Moll

For some time, Canadians from all sectors have been concerned about the lack of a national digital strategy. Numerous international studies have shown that our digital infrastructure and policy environment is lagging behind that of other developed nations. This stalls our economy and negatively affects productivity. Finally, on May 10, Canadians were invited to participate in a six week online consultation. Through a special website, participants could post ideas and position papers and/or vote for ideas they supported – creating a bit of competitive energy among a somewhat limited audience already comfortable with this kind of process.

A number of ISPs in rural and remote areas were taken by surprise when the federal government announced the winners of the first round of infrastructure spending for rural and remote broadband.  Apparently a large proportion of the funding is earmarked to overbuild existing, self-sustaining broadband networks.

Since the market in these areas is very limited, this jeopardizes the sustainability of existing local ISPs.  There are several examples of this problem in B.C., in northern Manitoba and in northern Ontario.

A group of researchers from the Canadian Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN) have submitted an intervention to the CRTC in response to CRCT notice 2010-43 -- Proceeding to review access to basic telecommunications services.  

Community access one pillar of a digital economy

By Marita Moll

On March 16, after three days of intense public pressure following a decision to cut funding to most of Canada’s community access sites (CAP), Industry Minister Tony Clement declared it all a misunderstanding.  The program was reinstated.  It wasn’t quite as dramatic as the backlash over the proposed changes to the wording of the national anthem, but it was a cliff hanger for the thousands of people who use these sites daily for everything from engaging in independent studies, connecting to government programs,  or setting up small businesses to market local products.