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A video presenting some of the ideas contained in the Consensus Submission for the Digital Economy consulation is now available on YouTube.

Video:  The Future of the Digital Economy

Consensus submission

Industry Canada's on-line digital economy strategy closed today with community access sites receiving a strong endorsement from the public both in the "ideas" forum and in the more formal submissions.

 Under "digital skills", 2 of the top 3 entries, were recommendations to support and extend this initiative.  Another was submitted to the "innovation" section. Links to CAP supporting submissions are provided below:

A group of 30 researchers, students and professors met at the University of Toronto on June 14 to discuss the federal Digital Economy Consultation Paper and prepare a group response.   Participants felt that a face to face meeting where they could discuss their views and arrive at a consensus document was a time honoured way to participate in federal policy discussions that could not be replaced by individual on-line comments to a web-site.

"It shouldn't have happened that way. And if it has, I'd like to know about it. That's not good. I was briefed that we had mapped the whole country" said Industry Minister Tony Clement when asked about the concerns of rural ISPs that federal infrastructure money could result in overbuilding in their areas.

In the 1990’s, Liberals had a proactive approach to new communications technologies. Ensuring that Canada took the lead in accessibility to the internet was a high priority policy and prominently featured in the Red Book.

 “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.

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.