[Advisors] Comment to CRTC Basic service review

[David Murdoch]

Hi Marita,

I was hoping we could somehow count our constituency. It would speak
volumes to what we advocate. Others count their supporters to show the
strength behind their messages. Why not us?

I think the data is what we need to support what we advocate.

I'm not an expert but I have noticed for example, that Ontario asked the
public to vote on what data should be openly available.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/sharing-government-data

Voting is closed. But just as an example how much of the Government of
Ontario's business is now done online with the expectation that its
citizens are able to participate in that way. And how much tax money
collected by the Government of Ontario has been spent (and where was it
spent) to equip that public - especially those marginalized - to connect
and access so they can participate?

Once the data is made available then there are programmers who will develop
apps to make sense of it in ways that regular folks can understand. Alberta
is challenging users to submit apps that make a difference in that way.
http://open.alberta.ca/

These are opportunities to show where government can be more strategic when
it makes decisions.

David

On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 8:21 PM, Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> Thanks David.  I think our constituency is quite large, actually.  We
> can't count it -- but every one of us is in contact with many like-minded
> people and have influence at many different levels. I really believe that,
> through our continued discussion and interventions re: Internet policy, we
> punch way over our weight.
>
> The Open Data report, to which you have provided a link below, describes
> the Canadian situation with respect to open data and digital literacy as
> follows:
>
> "This commitment supports development of tools, training resources, and
> other initiatives to help citizens acquire the essential skills needed to
> access digital information. Although this commitment is important to reduce
> the digital gap, division of powers in Canada limit the federal
> government’s power over education in provinces. Furthermore, this
> commitment does not tackle the fact that many citizens and civil society
> organizations lack the technology needed to work with data. To improve
> digital literacy, other commitments should address the access to
> technology."
>
> Trouble is, I am not sure how to interact with this project or what we
> could do.  If someone knows more about this than I do and can offer some
> suggestions, they would be welcome.
>
> Marita
>
>
>
> On 2/8/2016 3:35 PM, David Murdoch wrote:
>
> Thanks for your efforts on this submission Marita.
>
> A couple of questions for us to ponder:
>
> How large a constituency, when including like-minded groups, do you think
> are represented by this, and future opportunities for TC to submit?
>
> What opportunities are there to increase the quantity of data related to
> our arena of interest? More Open Data could possibly more accurately
> support our positions in future but only if the data exists. Canadians
> often look south (ie Pew) to find supporting references.
>
> BTW this just came into my mailbox:
>
> On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 3:56 PM, James McKinney <
> jamespetermckinney at gmail.com> wrote in [civicaccess-discuss]:
>
> As part of the Open Government Partnership, the Independent Reporting
> Mechanism researcher, Mary Francoli, has published her evaluation of the
> government’s progress on its commitments. The report is now open for
> comment:
>
> http://www.opengovpartnership.org/node/8597
>
> See also her piece in the Hill Times:
> http://www.hilltimes.com/opinion/2016/02/08/open-government-at-a-crossroad-canada-needs-better-funding-and-access-to-information/45138
>
> For example, page 7 (English version) of the report relates to digital
> literacy.
>
> David Murdoch
>
> On Sun, Feb 7, 2016 at 9:48 PM, Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net> wrote:
>
>> Since I have commitment tomorrow, and since things always go wrong when
>> you leave them to the last minute, I have just submitted our comment letter
>> to the CRTC.
>>
>> In a nutshell -- yes, we think broadband belongs in the basic service
>> basket, the minimum speeds for uploading and downloading need to be
>> revised, we ask that the CRTC support community-based broadband initiatives
>> and find new ways of funding broadband as public infrastructure.
>>
>> Thanks to those of you (you know who you are) who helped put this
>> together.  I attach a pdf of the document.  I will ask Ian to post it on
>> our website.
>>
>> Marita
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> David Murdoch
>    East River, Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 277-0766
>
>


-- 
David Murdoch
   East River, Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 277-0766
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