Telecom Policy, Town Hall Meetings, Community Technology

Digital literacy documentary -- available on-line

in
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)

in
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

700 MHz Spectrum: Maintaining a Dividend for the Canadian Public

in
March 1, 2011

A submission in response to: Consultation on a Policy and Technical Framework for the700 MHz Band and Aspects Related to Commercial Mobile Spectrum  (Prepared by Marita Moll for Telecommunities Canada )

Executive Summary:
Telecommunities Canada offers the following recommendations to this consultation:

That all proceeds generated by the auction be used to support broadband initiatives that would bring Canada’s communications infrastructure back up to world class standards, as well as support digital content creation and digital skills programs

That a portion of the proceeds of the auction be used to establish digital skills training centres within reach of all Canadians.

Cyber security and critical energy infrastructure

in
January 16, 2011

A new report by Angela Gendron, senior fellow at the Canadian Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies,  notes that private ownership of telecommunications, the fact that much of our national energy infrastructure is dependant on information and communications technologies and the responsibility of governments to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks is raising new problems in national security management. 

Telecom strategic to sovereignty and national security

in
July 31, 2010

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.

Op-ed: Government consultation more imagined than real

in
July 26, 2010

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.

Digital Economy Round Table video now available

in
July 21, 2010

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

Community access sites score high in digital economy consultation

in
July 14, 2010

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:

Researchers and educators hold roundtable on the digital economy

in
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.

Globe and Mail picks up rural "overbuild" story

in
June 10, 2010

"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.

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