[Advisors] Geist on digital strategy
Marita Moll
mmoll at ca.inter.net
Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:55:33 -0400
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Michael Geist's column this week asks the Industry Minister to stop
issuing platitudes to Canadians who have been waiting for years for a
digital strategy. Geist then continues by describing what such a
strategy should look like. Part of this is reproduced below. I have
underlined the portion that is particularly relevant to CAP. It is good
to see the need for and value of such a program being supported in a
very widely read column both online and off. Some supportive comments
from us on the blog wouldn't hurt. See www.michaelgeist.ca
Putting Some Substance into Canada's Digital Economy Penske File
<http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6625/135/>
<http://www.michaelgeist.ca/>
excerpt:
If Canada is to re-emerge as a digital economy leader, the starting
point should be universal computer ownership combined with affordable
broadband Internet access. The government has supported extending
broadband access to rural communities in recent years, but there still
remain thousands of Canadians who do not have access to affordable
high-speed Internet services. Reliance on the private sector has failed
to provide universal affordable access and the government should
acknowledge the need for the public funds to address the issue.
Mere affordable access is not enough, however. As millions of Canadian
students head back to school this week, it is worth remembering that
_many do not have computers in their homes_. The solution lies in a
digital economy strategy that brings together the technology and
telecommunications sector to develop a plan that ensures universal
access to computers and broadband Internet by 2015.
_*/Ensuring Canadians have the necessary access is only the first step
in the strategy. They must also have the skills and digital literacy to
use the technology effectively. This will require a concerted effort at
working with provincial and local groups to provide the necessary
knowledge and tools. These programs should be integrated into schools
and available more broadly within local communities.
/*_
Marita
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Michael Geist's column this week asks the Industry Minister to stop
issuing platitudes to Canadians who have been waiting for years for a
digital strategy. Geist then continues by describing what such a
strategy should look like. Part of this is reproduced below. I have
underlined the portion that is particularly relevant to CAP. It is
good to see the need for and value of such a program being supported in
a very widely read column both online and off. Some supportive
comments from us on the blog wouldn't hurt. See <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca">www.michaelgeist.ca</a><br>
<br>
<h3
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Geneva,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a
href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6625/135/"
class="contentpagetitle" rel="bookmark"
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Putting
Some Substance into Canada’s Digital Economy Penske File</a><a
href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/"> <br>
</a></h3>
<br>
excerpt:<br>
<br>
<span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline ! important; float: none;">If
Canada is to re-emerge as a digital economy leader, the starting point
should be universal computer ownership combined with affordable
broadband Internet access. The government has supported extending
broadband access to rural communities in recent years, but there still
remain thousands of Canadians who do not have access to affordable
high-speed Internet services. Reliance on the private sector has failed
to provide universal affordable access and the government should
acknowledge the need for the public funds to address the issue.</span><br
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline ! important; float: none;">Mere
affordable access is not enough, however. As millions of Canadian
students head back to school this week, it is worth remembering that <u>many
do not have computers in their homes</u><small><small>.</small></small>
The solution lies in a digital economy strategy that brings together
the technology and telecommunications sector to develop a plan that
ensures universal access to computers and broadband Internet by 2015.</span><br
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<u><b><i><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline ! important; float: none;">Ensuring
Canadians have the necessary access is only the first step in the
strategy. They must also have the skills and digital literacy to use
the technology effectively. This will require a concerted effort at
working with provincial and local groups to provide the necessary
knowledge and tools. These programs should be integrated into schools
and available more broadly within local communities.</span><br
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</i></b></u><br>
Marita<br>
<br>
<br>
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