[Advisors] Fwd: Notes fromFeb. 11 mtg re: TC and community broadband -- correction
Marita Moll
mmoll at ca.inter.net
Thu Feb 12 05:51:18 PST 2015
Oops -- somehow Garth Graham diappeared from the list of participants.
Marita
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Advisors] Notes fromFeb. 11 mtg re: TC and community broadband
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:49:33 -0500
From: Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net>
To: TC Advisors <advisors at tc.ca>
Report on meeting re: TC role in advocacy for community broadband --
Feb. 11, 2005
Present:
Anthony Niiganii, Clarice Leader, Elizabeth Wilson, Michael Gurstein,
James Van Leeuwen, Marita Moll
Co-ordinating and reporting: Marita Moll
James provided a brief overview of the community broadband movement in
the U.S. and the fact that the movement has gained such credibility that
President Obama promoted community broadband in his recent speech in
Cedar Falls, Iowa which (with federal assistance) has built a thriving
community owned broadband network
(http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/government/text-president-obamas-speech-in-cedar-falls-20150114)
. In the U.S., community broadband has an extensive profile with
organizations, websites, print materials, regional and national events,
etc. working to enhance its visibility (e.g. Broadband Communities
Magazine, Fibre to the Home Council). Because it is being promoted as a
key economic driver, it has been seen as politically beneficial for
governments and regulators in the U.S. to be supportive. James has
attended a number of events in the U.S. and has spoken with advocates
and organizations there who would like to help bring some of this
information to Canada by way of a conference either in Toronto or
Vancouver.
The situation in Canada is very different. Although there are successful
community owned broadband networks, as an issue it is barely on the
radar. But, with the recent success in the U.S., this should be a good
time to ramp up advocacy in Canada. There is no clear leader emerging at
a national level to take on the role of aggregating interest on this
topic. TC could play an important role in taking up the challenge.
A lively discussion ensued regarding the nature of the population served
by such networks, the infrastructure used, the options for communities
who are seeking better connectivity, examples of Canadian communities
who have embraced the concept (Coquitlam), and the need for a public
perspective on services/ownership/benefits of such a network. Although
private interests are necessarily involved in the building of community
owned broadband systems, in the end, private companies are about wealth
extraction not wealth creation. This is a message that community leaders
need to hear more often.
In order to move the agenda ahead, the following activities are suggested:
1. Survey of TC members on the meaning of broadband in the context of
their communities/ province. Examples of such systems in place or underway.
2. Develop an inventory of interested persons/organizations.
3. Start a space on the TC website to contain information on community
broadband
4. Reinforce TC's mandate to include community broadband issues as an
area of interest.
Marita
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