Towards a 21^st Century Communications Strategy for All Canadians: A Policy Proposal from Telecommunities Canada

Submission

January 17, 2010

High speed Internet connections have become an integral part of modern life. Job searches, EI applications, passport renewals, airline tickets, and banking are a few of the thousands of common activities that are increasingly carried out on–line. Even the recent H1N1 flu vaccine clinics relied heavily on electronic communications to manage their wait times, reducing them dramatically by continuously updating their status to websites and social networks. Lately, many international studies are suggesting that Canada is not keeping up with the need to make these connections effective, open, accessible and affordable. In the recent Berkman Center study of broadband policies around the world, Canada ranks 22^nd overall, 16^th in access, 20^th in speed and 25^th in price. At stake is nothing less than the economic and social health of our communities. The following are recommendations towards addressing this deficiency:

1. Recognizing "effective" connectivity as a legal right

The Berkman Center study recognizes broadband "as a key enabler of economic growth that can benefit services such as telemedicine in rural areas, allow better management of transportation and energy systems and reduce infrastructure costs for businesses."” Especially in the current economic downturn, communities need such an enabler.

In 2009, the government announced a release of $225 million over three years to encourage the development of rural broadband infrastructure. This is a far too timid response to the growing gap between electronic have and have–not communities. The program defines broadband connectivity as "access to Internet service that supports data transmission at a minimum speed of 1.5 Mbps to a household." 1.5 Mbps. is not enough to support applications such as e–health or –education or e–commerce. At this speed, rural and, in some areas, urban Canadians will remain effectively disconnected and electronically disabled for a long time to come.

We must begin by acknowledging that broadband has become an essential service. Estonia (2004), Australia (2006) and Finland (2009) have declared broadband Internet access to be a legal right. Canadians should not only have a legal right to broadband service but also to service that is robust enough to support social and economic applications essential to community sustainability.

2. Talking to Canadians: Developing a national strategy

Countries ranking high in the Saïd study of connectivity around the world (South Korea, Japan, Sweden) had developed a national broadband agenda. A brief glance at the broadband planning activity in some of our peer nations indicates just how far we have fallen behind:

• Australia released its National Broadband Strategy in 2004. It recognized, as top priority, the need to improve infrastructure across the country.
• Over the past year, Great Britain has involved its citizens in planning for their digital future and in June, 2009, released the Digital Britain Report.
• Germany released its Information Society Germany 2010 plan in 2006.
• France and New Zealand announced national digital strategies in 2008.
• U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be presenting a national broadband strategy to the U.S. Congress by February 2010.

Calls for change are coming from all sectors of society. Even the CRTC, in its 2009 New Media decision, pointed out the need for a comprehensive national strategy to secure the nation's digital future. "Such a strategy is essential if we want to maintain a competitive advantage in this global environment" said CRTC chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein.

Canada needs to begin developing a 21st century national communications strategy that would advance the development and use of broadband. This strategy would honour the principle of open competition for all levels of Internet services.

The process of developing such a strategy should take the form of open and accessible public consultations that explore a wide range of communications policy issues including net neutrality and the infrastructure required to operate the national network on an open access basis.

3. Building capacity and generating demand with a national public access program

The Berkman Centre study also notes that national programs providing access, education and support to ensure effective use of ICTs in communities are considered essential in countries like Korea that rank high in their use of on–line tools. Such programs are considered investments, both generating demand and building human capacity to meet that demand.

Canada currently has a national network of 3,500 community technology centers that help more than 100,000 people per day to incorporate new technologies into their lives. These sites and their young facilitators, along with a legion of volunteers, provide job search and software training, technology literacy programs, access to community services, and cultural integration opportunities. They partner with the local private and public sector to provide services and experienced personnel in many different areas — from film editing to website building. Along the way, thousands of youth gain valuable job experience. Both internal and external evaluators have agreed that this very cost–effective program has been a success story for years. This network must not be allowed to collapse in the current telecom policy vacuum. Support for existing centres needs to be expanded and a program to restart funding for new centres needs to be established.

This investment will boost the local economy by encouraging the uses of technology for community development and by offering collaborative tools that promote the effectiveness of the community sector. With so many communities in distress due to major job losses, these programs provide essential support in this economic downturn.

4. Looking down the road: Next generation broadband

The 2006 report of the Telecom Policy Review Panel noted that Canada was "among the first countries to recognize the potential for information and communications technologies (ICTs) to transform and enrich economic and social life.".

However, Canada's rapidly declining telecommunications infrastructure has now become a major concern for small and large business, the R&D sector, the education sector and the social sector alike. "Broadband speed is an important driver for "useful connectivity" since it facilitates the flow of information, stimulates innovation, encourages education [and] increases productivity and economic prosperity" says a recent report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. According to telecom analyst Sheridan Scott "A 2009 study by the World Bank suggests that an increase of 10 per cent in broadband penetration in high–income countries correlates with GDP growth increases of 1.2 per cent." The Canadian economy needs strategic investment in more than roads and bridges to exploit the potential of the new communications tools.

In April, 2009, the Government of Australia announced it would build a national high–speed broadband network that would deliver up to 100Mbps to 90% of its citizens. The eight year, AU$43 billion project will be one of the largest state–sponsored Internet infrastructure upgrades in the world. The Australian Prime Minister has suggested that project will support up to 37,000 jobs at the peak of construction.

Only concentrated public investment will bring Canadian communications infrastructure back up to world class standards. This undertaking would be guided by a national communications strategy derived through public consultations. As is the case in Australia, Canadians would retain majority ownership of the resulting infrastructure.

Telecommunities Canada — Established in 1993, Telecommunities Canada (Telecommunities Canada and Internet For Everyone) is a community of practice about the uses of online networks for community development. Together with like–minded groups, our goal is to connect theory, policy and practice in ways that expand and improve the ability of communities to design their own future. Telecommunities Canada has become a significant repository of, and network for, the local experience gained through public participation in the Community Access Program. Telecommunities Canada (TC) advocates for control of open broadband networks as a local responsibility.

For more information contact:

Gareth Shearman, President
Telecommunities Canada
#220 — 4252 Commerce Circle
Victoria, B.C. V8Z 4M2
shearman@victoria.tc.ca

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