CRTC puts basic service up for review -- panel

Submitted by marita on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 20:44
03/20/2010 10:30
Canada/Eastern

ICT Summit

Vancouver, Coast Plaza Hotel

Title: CRTC puts basic service up for review;  What is it and why should you care?

Alternative Federal Budget calls for national strategy on broadband

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The  Alternative Federal Budget 2010 contains the following recommendations designed to bring Canada's communications infrastructure into the 21st century:

1.  Make access to "effective" bandwidth a legal right for all Canadians.
2. Fund a broad national consultation on modernizing communications policy:  $750,000.
3.  Support new and existing national public access sites: $40M.
4.  Begin planning forn next generation (higher speed) broadband.

International study exposes Canada's growing connectivity gap

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 A study completed by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University exposes Canada's lack of progress in the area of broadband connectivity.  The "Canada" chapter of the final edition of this study concludes :
 

"Canada opened the decade as an extremely strong performer on broadband.  Over the course of the decade, its penetration rates have grown more slowly than those of other countries, its prices have remained high, and its speeds are still low in comparison to other OECD countries.  

Liberals say internet is infrastructure

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 “Rural infrastructure like internet, roads and water services in every rural town needs to be modernized,” said Liberal Rural Caucus Chair Mark Eyking at a Feb 5 roundtable on rural-urban issues.  “That’s why we’re setting a goal of achieving full high-speed internet connectivity in every corner of the country.”  It is nice to hear internet described as infrastructure, which, of course, it is.  But the Liberals will have to go well beyond this goal to distinguish themselves from their rivals.

Digital economy round table -- Feb.11

On Feb. 11, Liberal MP and Industry, Science and Technology Critic Marc Garneau held a Roundtable on the Digital Economy.  It was mostly an occasion for industry players to present their version of telecom reform.  However, Michael Hennessy, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, TELUS noted that one of the biggest problems in this sector was digital literacy and that such programs ought to be funded from the proceeds of spectrum auctions. Those working to keep the 3000+ Industry Canada community access sites alive might want to send him a note of support.

Future of the Internet Town Hall Meetings

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Telecom Policy - Town Hall Meetings
Written by Marita Moll
Wednesday, 30 December 2009

In response to the lack of government action on internet issues, a number of public interest organizations have begun sponsoring town hall meetings to faciliate discussions on the future of the Internet in Canada. In 2009, meetings were held in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Halifax.

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