[governance] FW: In historic decision, CRTC rules that all Canadians must have access to reliable, world-class mobile and residential Internet

Thu Dec 22 16:46:20 EST 2016

From: First Mile [mailto:FIRSTMILE at LISTSERV.UNB.CA] On Behalf Of Josh Tabish
Sent: December 21, 2016 5:29 PM
To: FIRSTMILE at LISTSERV.UNB.CA <mailto:FIRSTMILE at LISTSERV.UNB.CA> 
Subject: Re: WAHOO! CRTC establishes fund to attain new high-speed Internet targets

Hi all,

This is indeed extremely important and historic.

Please see our press release below, which went out about an hour ago. And be sure to spread the good word on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/openmediaorg/photos/a.10150091346724759.281668.173437729758/10154928037764759/?type=3&theater>  and Twitter <https://twitter.com/OpenMediaOrg/status/811680310794461184> .

For Immediate Release 

In historic decision, CRTC rules that all Canadians must have access to reliable, world-class mobile and residential Internet

Today’s CRTC decision is a game-changer for rural Canadians. Trudeau government must step up and help turn this exciting vision into reality

December 21, 2016 – The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has  <http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599> just ruled that all Canadians must have access to reliable, world-class mobile and residential Internet services. The decision underpins a call for a new national strategy from the CRTC and citizens alike, resulting from the Commission’s  <http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-134.htm> Review of Basic Telecommunications Services consultation.

OpenMedia, which led a nearly 50,000-strong citizen movement for Internet as a basic service (and facilitated more than 95% of the comments to the CRTC proceeding), describes today’s decision as truly historic. The ruling will be a game-changer for rural and underserved communities across Canada where Internet access is either unavailable or unaffordable, due to a digital divide keeping almost  <http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/CMCRProjectBSOSubmission-1.pdf> one in five Canadians offline. 

“Canadians asked for universal Internet access, support for rural communities, world-class speeds, unlimited data options, and minimum guarantees for the quality of their Internet. And today, we won it all!” said Josh Tabish, campaigns director for OpenMedia. “With this ruling, the CRTC has finally listened to Canadians and agreed that residential and mobile Internet is a basic service required for modern life, as important as the telephone.”

Tabish continued: “For too long, rural and underserved communities all across Canada have faced an uphill battle to participate meaningfully in our digital economy. Today’s decision will go a long way toward closing this digital divide. Now that the CRTC has spoken, we need to hold the Trudeau government accountable for ensuring this exciting vision becomes a reality.”

Key points from today’s CRTC decision, and the accompanying national broadband strategy:

*         100% of Canadians must have access to reliable, world-class mobile and fixed Internet services. 

*         The decision includes: Internet access defined as a basic service, access to world-class speeds, options for unlimited data packages, and a level playing field for rural and remote Canadians.

*         New network speed targets of 50 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed, and the ability to subscribe to fixed Internet package with an unlimited data option.

*         Canadians from coast to coast to coast must have access to high-speed mobile and residential Internet connections. To fund this, the CRTC will redistribute hundreds of millions of dollars from telecommunications company revenues over the coming years.

*         Going forward, rural, remote, and urban communities must be able to access Internet speeds five times as fast as the U.S. minimum (10/1) and the government will encourage the widest availability of the fastest 4G/LTE mobile networks.

*         Finally, the CRTC issued a new report <http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp161221/rp161221.pdf>  outlining the imperative for a national broadband strategy and what the federal government should consider when building it.

Throughout our participation in this proceeding, OpenMedia argued that only a properly-funded national strategy can tackle Canada’s digital divide. We asked the CRTC to create new rules to ensure all Canadians have access to guaranteed minimum service levels on fixed and mobile networks — rules that will enable all Canadians to enjoy equal opportunity to participate in the social and economic activities afforded by Internet access at a fair price. 

Our community-driven  <https://www.scribd.com/document/314045590/OpenMedia-CRTC-BSO-Final-Submission> submission argues that these new rules should not hinder industry, but should instead promote investment, competition, and openness. 

Canadians can call on the government to build on the CRTC’s vision to create a national broadband strategy at  <https://act.openmedia.org/broadband-plan> https://act.openmedia.org/broadband-plan

About OpenMedia

OpenMedia works to keep the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free. We create community-driven campaigns to engage, educate, and empower people to safeguard the Internet.

-30-

Contact

Katy Anderson

Digital Rights Specialist, OpenMedia

1 (888) 441-2640 ext. 5

 <mailto:katy at openmedia.org> katy at openmedia.org

On Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 1:55 PM, Rob McMahon <rdmcmaho at ualberta.ca <mailto:rdmcmaho at ualberta.ca> > wrote:

This is such fantastic news!! Hooray!! Thanks all!

On Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 2:54 PM, <heatherehudson at gmail.com <mailto:heatherehudson at gmail.com> > wrote:

‎Terrific! Of course the devil will be in the details, but it looks as if the fund will be open to all. 

I  think‎ we should put out a press release tomorrow. 

Many thanks to our participants and supporters!

Heather 

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

From: Brian Beaton

Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2016 13:12

To: FIRSTMILE at LISTSERV.UNB.CA <mailto:FIRSTMILE at LISTSERV.UNB.CA> 

Reply To: Brian Beaton

Subject: WOW - CRTC establishes fund to attain new high-speed Internet targets

From http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599

CRTC establishes fund to attain new high-speed Internet targets

Wants Canadians to have access to an unlimited data plan option and speeds of at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload

December 21, 2016 – Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today declared that broadband access Internet service is now considered a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians. The CRTC is also setting ambitious new speed targets and creating a new fund that will invest up to $750 million over and above existing government programs.

Broadband and mobile services

Further to its legislative mandate, the CRTC has set the following targets for the basic telecommunications services that Canadians need to participate in the digital economy:

*	speeds of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download/10 Mbps upload for fixed broadband Internet access services.
*	an unlimited data option for fixed broadband access services.
*	the latest mobile wireless technology available not only in homes and businesses, but also along major Canadian roads.

New funding for broadband projects

The CRTC is establishing a  <http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172419> fund to support projects in areas that do not meet these targets. Applicants will be able to submit funding proposals in order to build or upgrade infrastructure for fixed and mobile broadband Internet access services. The fund will:

*	make available up to $750 million over the first five years;
*	be complementary to existing and future private investment and public funding;
*	focus on underserved areas; and
*	be managed at arm’s length by a third party.

Accessibility and tools for consumers

The CRTC wants Canadians to have access to the tools and services they need to empower themselves regarding fixed Internet access services. No later than six months from today, service providers should ensure that contracts are written in clear and plain language, and should make available online tools so consumers can easily manage their data usage.

Also, all wireless service providers will have to offer and publicize, no later than six months from today, mobile service packages that meet the needs of Canadians with disabilities.

The path forward for Canada’s digital economy

During its consultations with Canadians, the CRTC also identified further gaps regarding the adoption of broadband Internet services in Canada that are outside its core mandate. Today, the CRTC is submitting  <http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp161221/rp161221.htm> a report to the Innovation Agenda, as encouraged by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, on the availability and adoption of broadband Internet services in Canada. This report includes information on access gaps resulting from infrastructure, affordability and digital literacy issues, as well as barriers to connectivity in Indigenous communities.

The decision issued today complements the Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda. Looking ahead, the CRTC will contribute in ways appropriate to its mandate. However, all stakeholders have a role to play to ensure that broadband Internet service is universally available and barriers to adoption are removed.

Quick Facts

*	Broadband Internet access services are necessary to the quality of life for Canadians and empowers them as citizens, creators and consumers.
*	While most are well-served, many Canadians, particularly those in rural and remote communities, do not have access to broadband Internet access services that are comparable to those offered to the vast majority of Canadians in terms of speed, capacity, quality and price.
*	Broadband Internet services would allow more Canadian entrepreneurs to easily access crucial information relating to international markets and create more business opportunities across Canada.
*	In 2015, 82% of Canadians had access to speeds of 50 Mbps download/10 Mbps upload for fixed broadband services.
*	The CRTC is shifting its regulatory focus from wireline voice to broadband services.
*	Currently there is a subsidy for residential local voice services in rural and remote areas that amounted to approximately $100 million in 2016.
*	The current local voice subsidy will now be transitioned to the new funding mechanism announced today (for projects that meet the new targets).
*	Further to a broad consultation, more than 50,000 Canadians provided their views on the telecommunications services they need to participate in the digital economy.

Quote

“Access to broadband Internet service is vital and a basic telecommunication service all Canadians are entitled to receive. Canadians who participated during our process told us that no matter where they live or work in our vast country — whether in a small town in northern Yukon, a rural area of eastern Quebec or in downtown Calgary — everyone needs access to high-quality fixed Internet and mobile services. We are doing our part to bring broadband services to rural and remote communities.

The availability of broadband Internet, however, is an issue that can’t be solved by the CRTC alone. All players in the Canadian communications landscape will need to do their part to ensure Canadians have access to the services they need to participate in the digital economy.

All levels of government must address gaps in digital literacy. Affordability concerns are best addressed by the emergence of a dynamic market place where service providers compete on price for telecommunication services, in conjunction with social responsibility programs of telecommunications carriers and different levels of government.

High quality and reliable digital connectivity is essential for the quality of life of Canadians and Canada’s economic prosperity.”

- Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman and CEO, CRTC

Additional links

*	 <http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172409> Backgrounder 1 – Summary of key decision points
*	 <http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172419> Backgrounder 2 – Further details regarding new funding mechanism
*	 <http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-496.htm> Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-496 – Modern telecommunications services – The path forward for Canada’s digital economy
*	 <http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm> Basic telecommunications services

- 30 -

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-- 

Assistant Professor

University of Alberta

Faculty of Extension
Phone: 780-248-1110 <tel:(780)%20248-1110> 
Email: rob.mcmahon at ualberta.ca <mailto:rob.mcmahon at ualberta.ca>  
http://firstmile.ca

-- 

Josh Tabish
Campaigns Director, OpenMedia
 <tel:778-990-1218> 778-990-1218
 <http://openmedia.org/> http://openmedia.org
 <mailto:josh at openmedia.org> josh at openmedia.org

 <http://www.twitter.com/jdtabish> Follow me on Twitter

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