[Advisors] Ryerson digital access session

[Brian Beaton]

Marita .. Thanks for all you do and share with us. I do appreciate being a
part of this discussion at this point in my life. The 2020 article shared,
"The ‘digital divide’ is about equity, not infrastructure", left me feeling
uncomfortable for a number of reasons. I will also add that I do agree that
the issue of equity is critical in any discussion about the "digital
divide" but equity comes in many forms missing in this article .. in
particular access to the necessary connections to even participate in any
effective manner in the other equity issues discussed.

1. I wondered about the authors and their experience in working and serving
remote and rural communities across Canada to take the position they are
taking in this article.
2. The article seems well positioned for those located in well-served
environments and looks to address the very important "effective use"
requirements for everyone to be able to access online services and
applications.
3. Knowing that any community in Canada remains disconnected or underserved
from the necessary infrastructure required to effectively access online
services, applications and opportunities makes the title and the discussion
privileged, colonial with some very systemic issues.
4. Stating that "Rights protects Canadians from discrimination" and
recognizing various marginalized groups in one sentence without addressing
systemic and environmental racism within a very corporate-captured
government and the telecom industry across Canada is another issue I have
with the article.
5. Lobbying for programs from positions of privilege to support equitable
access to services is great but I believe it requires a level of
sensitivity that avoids pitting one marginalized group (those without
infrastructure) against others. We all have been involved in similar types
of struggle for far too long to ignore this one.

Anyway, I share these thoughts in the hope that the issues raised in the
article can be prioritized in such a way that when the last community and
every household in that community is able to decide if they want or refuse
to connect to fibre-to-the-home, then the programs and support services
advocated for in this article.

I hope this reaction avoids offending anyone .. With all good thoughts ..

Brian

On Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 2:28 PM Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> Hello advisors. Just got off the Ryerson Leadership workshop on digital
> access. It is thoroughly interesting to see the amount of activity this
> topic is suddenly generating -- after being dormant for so long. A bit of
> déjà vu alright -- what is being discussed looks a lot like the CAP
> program.  It was lively discussion with lots of input from libraries
> (Vancouver, Toronto), the Toronto Digital Access Project and and a former
> colleague from the days of the CRACIN SSHRC project (2001-2005) Michael
> Lenzner who started the Montreal open wi-fi project called Il sans Fil.
>
> Here is an interesting article about the "digital divide" you might enjoy.
> I will send around a link to the session recording once it comes through.
>
> The ‘digital divide’ is about equity, not infrastructure - First Policy
> Response
> <https://policyresponse.ca/the-digital-divide-is-about-equity-not-infrastructure/>
>
> Marita
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-- 

Brian Beaton
Box 104, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4Y2
C:  506-261-1344
E: brianbeaton.nb at gmail.com
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