[Advisors] Only from KPMG? Pity!

[Clarice Leader]

Here is s link to a ISP provider that is RM based, my cottage is in this
RM, and everyone I have talked to about it is very happy. Farmers can even
be on line while in equipment on their fields.

https://yellowheadbroadband.ca

On Tue, Aug 25, 2020, 8:23 PM Marita Moll, <mmoll at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> Your link is behind a paywall Garth. But the article is accessible if you
> search for "internet municipal service beatty" -- it comes up in a service
> called press reader. This is an article any of us could have written -- but
> would not likely have seen it printed in the G&M business section!
>
> After itemizing multiple reasons why the current pandemic context is
> showing up the need for more equitable access to Internet resources it says:
>
> "Typically, the build out of broadband infrastructure has been left to the
> telecoms. But municipalities are closest to their residents and should be
> empowered to respond to their needs. This could be accomplished by
> reimagining our municipalities as 'public utilities' and leveraging their
> assets to create connected digital infrastructure."
>
> It certainly is an interesting opinion piece that would have been
> celebrated all those years ago by public interest advocates trying to keep
> some "public interest" in the increasingly privatized "information
> highway." In the early days, cities and municipalities just didn't see this
> role for themselves and didn't try to fight for it.  Here in Ottawa we
> actually had the capacity and the infrastructure at the time the Internet
> was exploding on the scene (1990's) and gave it away to the telcos on the
> grounds it was not the role of the city to run telecommunications. There
> are, of course, some examples of municipally owned fibre -- but I don't
> know of any new projects.
>
> In answer to your question, is anyone thinking about this now -- I have
> not heard much lately. The article suggests that the introduction of 5G
> could provide some new stimulus for this kind of thinking. "Municipalities
> could then co-develop public-private partnerships to fund innovative
> solutions for a truly connected Canada, as well as provide access as a
> "neutral host" to all qualified telecom providers at a fair price to
> generate revenue."
>
> Here's hoping KPMG people have more luck at tilting windmills than we ever
> did.
>
> Thanks for bringing this forward.
>
> Marita
>
>
> Reimagining Internet as municipal service is key to connecting Canada.
>
> Alex Benay is a partner with KPMG in Canada’s digital and infrastructure, government and health care practice. Stephen Beatty is partner and chair of Global Cities Centre for Excellence at KPMG in Canada.
> Why cities are key to a connected Canada.  Globe and Mail, August 24, 2020.  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-why-cities-are-key-to-a-connected-canada/
>
> This is an odd channel to be transmitting TC’s original message.  But I don’t think that the prime telecommunications carriers need to worry about municipalities intruding into their turf, unless some kind of shift in thinking is occurring at the municipal level?  Has anyone sensed any hint of that?
>
> GG
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