community technology

Community Access Program chopped

August 27, 2012

 This story originally appeared on VoicesVoix.ca  -- August 16, 2012

 The Community Access Program (CAP), was created by Industry Canada in 1995 to provide free or low-cost access to Internet in rural regions of Canada. CAP operated in over 3,000 sites across Canada, offering computer literacy trainings and Internet-user skills in public libraries and community centers. It has provided access to Internet for youth, seniors, members of low-income communities and residents of rural and remote regions.

What Happened

On April 5, 2012, Industry Canada sent a letter announcing that funding for the Community Access Program (CAP), amounting to about $15 million, was scheduled to end on March 31, 2012 and would not be renewed. Industry Canada stated that in the context of "challenging fiscal times," funding for CAP was terminated because the program had "successfully achieved its objective." However, the digital divide in Canada has been proven to persist and library associations and community centers that operated CAP have decried the funding cuts.

Communications Chapter - Alternative Federal Budget - 2012

March 28, 2012

The AFB 2012 allocates the following amounts for communications:

  • The AFB allocates $250,000 to fund a broad national consultation to modernize communications policy in Canada. 
  • The AFB ramps up to $1 billion annually over 10 years to modernize Canada’s digital communications infrastructure. 
  • The AFB allocates $40 million to support new and existing national public access sites in the 2012-2013 budget year.

Full communications chapter

Full AFB 2012

Digital literacy documentary -- available on-line

September 14, 2011
Through stories from nine community access (C@P) sites in the Halifax region, this documentary explores digital divides and the value and ever-changing potential of community access to the Internet and information technology.

Filmed on location in Nova Scotia in Halifax, Moser River, Terence Bay, Sheet Harbour, Jeddore, Tantallon, and Lake Echo.

Alternative Federal Budget 2011 - Communications (in brief)

March 16, 2011

Recognizing “effective” connectivity as an essential service
To return Canada to a leadership role in the availability and use of new communications technologies, “effective” broadband, supporting a wide range of communications applications, must become a vital part of federal policy and programs.

The AFB believes that access to 1.5 Mbps. broadband should became part of the "basic service" definition for telecommunications providers in Canada.

Developing a national broadband plan

Researchers and educators hold roundtable on the digital economy

June 18, 2010

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.

CACTUS at CRTC -- April 26 -- CPAC link

April 26, 2010
CACTUS (Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations) presented its proposal for new community-run multimedia access production and distribution centres to the CRTC on Monday, April 26th, at 9 a.m.
 

Reception for MPs re: community television

March 30, 2010
04/14/2010 17:19
Canada/Eastern

Telecommunities Canada representation at reception hosted by CACTUS to familiarize MPs with issues concerning community broadcasting and multi-media centers in communities.  

CRTC community television hearings - April 26

March 30, 2010
04/26/2010 09:00
Canada/Eastern
CACTUS (Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations) will present its proposal for new community-run multimedia access production and distribution centres to the CRTC this Monday, April 26th, at 9 a.m. in Gatineau.  This opening panel will include community partners.  I will be representing Telecommunities Canada in support of this proposal.
 
Calendar with a schedule of appearances below if you'd like to follow the hearings on-line on CPAC at
 

Harper government pulls support from community access sites

March 12, 2010

On Mar. 9, administrators of community technology/access sites reported receiving a letter from Industry Canada announcing that their funding was about to be cut off.  "Our support....will target CAP sites that do not have access to a publicly funded library within a 25-kilometre radius."

The government suggests that it is merely about "access", but knows full well that these sites provide much more than that. 

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