[Advisors] Telecommunities Canada -- are we letting it go?

Sun Sep 28 18:00:31 PDT 2014

For my part... 

I think we lack a clear sense of purpose for TC at this point.

It's not that we couldn't have a strong mandate, it's that we haven't taken time to take stock and engage properly around defining a new mandate. 

There is still an acute need for much stronger policy advocacy in Canada, but it needs to be far more strategic than anything we're presently providing. 

Advocacy for digital inclusion and level playing fields doesn't get very far if it's not backed up by a strong chorus of digital leadership singing from the same song sheet.

I think our logical next step is a robust conversation around effective digital leadership, specifically, what it looks like and how best to foster it.

For now, it seems practically futile to direct any energy at our federal government. 

They have not grasped the significance of what is happening, and cannot formulate an appropriate response. 

Digital Canada 150 is a naked committed to political expedience and band-aid solutions, in the face of technology-driven economic and social disruption and transformation the likes of which we only see once or twice a century. 

It is a strategy in name only, and I have absolutely no confidence that the current federal government will ever serve up anything better. 

They aren't going to lead, because... they just can't.

I maintain that actively fostering municipal/community leadership is the most fruitful strategy.

This is where leadership is most needed, and where it can (and does) make the biggest difference. 

The footprint of municipal/community leadership is now growing rapidly across Canada, especially by way of regional collaborations like EORN and SWIFT in Ontario. 

These municipal collaborations are now driving policy discussions in some provincial governments, as they wake up to the reality that the telecom landscape is evolving in their favour. 

For a good sense of where things are going, look at how we manage road, street and highway infrastructure across the country. 

The systemic parallels are strong, and when community/municipal leaders 'get it', they reflexively turn to provincial government for help. 

From the standpoint of communication strategy, this is a powerful and defensible narrative. 

I recently attended the GigaBit Highway event in Minneapolis, hosted by the FTTH Council of North America.

A few key takeaways:

1) The access technology debate is now over in the U.S., and the champion is 'Gig Fibre'. 

This outcome was echoed by people who oversee federal and state funding programs for broadband, including the border-to-border fibre initiative that is now taking shape in Minnesota. 

2) Open access municipal/community fibre is now widely recognized as a preferred solution to private fibre, especially in non-competitive rural markets. 

The open access discussion has now penetrated the FCC, and has become strongly connected to the exploding discussion around net neutrality. 

I just saw the same thing emerge at the Cybera Summit in Banff last week, where a panel discussion that started on the topic of net neutrality concluded on the topic of open access.

3) The Minneapolis-based Blandin Foundation has been doing a ton of work on community engagement and capacity building.

The key message they served up during the closing plenary panel was 'stop talking about broadband, and start talking about impact'.

I'll finish here, because I think it's where we might want to start... changing the conversation.

JvL

On Sep 28, 2014, at 5:47 PM, Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> So this seems to indicate that very few people on this list read and/or signed the documents that Anthony sent around.  Was it because you were unclear on what to do here, or because you really thought we should let the NGO status go.  
> 
> I'd be interested in any feedback.
> 
> Marita
> 
> 
> On 9/23/2014 2:53 PM, Anthony Niiganii MBE wrote:
>> 
>> Good day Everyone
>> 
>> A quick update, as our deadline has passed. We have physically received 3 members signatures and required 9 to for the directors to begin transitioning TC to the NFP Act.  The deadline to transition to NFP is October 17, which means we need our paper work in by the end of September.
>> 
>> Here is where we currently stand:
>> Chair of meeting: C. Leader
>> Secretary of meeting: M. MOLL
>> Resolution mover: A. Niiganii
>> Resolution Seconder: G. Graham
>> 
>> We have 18% in favour (based on submissions), which seems to indicate over 82% of the members are not in support of the transition (due to lack of submissions). Motions cannot carry without 50% plus 1 in favour.
>> 
>> At this point, it appears without the required signatures, TC Directors will not be able to move forward with the transition paperwork, and will need to begin looking at the process to dissolve the corporation.
>> 
>> Should members wish to support the transition, please submitted your signed resolutions by no later than September 26.  I will send out an email to indicate the final decision of the members.
>> 
>> Quick note to Members and Directors, I can email the forms directly to you, if you had not been able to access them in the original postings.
>> 
>> Thank you to those who submitted their signed forms.
>> 
>> Kindest regards,
>> Anthony
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 1:00 PM, Anthony Niiganii MBE <aniiganii at mb.e-association.ca> wrote:
>> Hi Everyone,
>> 
>> As you may be aware, organizations registered federally have been ask to transition to the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.
>> 
>> As part of this process TC is required to conduct two meetings, the first begin the meeting of the memberships.
>> 
>> With the deadline to transition coming up next week, I have attach the documents for everyone's review, feedback and acceptance.  Once you have review the information, and if you have no questions, please digitally add your signature to the documents or scan a copy with your signature and email to aniiganii at mb.e-association. 
>> 
>> The deadline to have everyone's signatures is Friday September 12, 2014.  If we do not receive the required support (50% plus 1) TC may risk losing it's registration.
>> 
>> I will need a mover and seconder for each of the motions and resolutions, and those willing to do so may indicate in their email.
>> 
>> Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your attention on this matter, and I look forward to receiving your signed forms.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Anthony
>> 
>> Anthony Niiganii
>> Executive Director
>> Manitoba E-Association
>> 210-1600 Kenaston Boulevard, Suite #318 
>> Winnipeg, Manitoba 
>> R3P 0Y4
>> Web: mb.e-association.ca
>> Email: aniiganii at mb.e-association.ca
>> BB PIN: 2B060C22
>> Phone:  (204) 771-0200
>> 
>> "New technology is changing the way we can film. It's enabling us to get fresh new images and tell brand new stories.”" — Karen Bass
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors
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