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CRTC, }
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Ottawa, Ontario }
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K1A ON2}{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24\loch\f5
 }
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February 7, 2016}
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Dear Sir:}
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}
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Telecommunities Canada, established in 1993, is a community of practice about the uses of online networks for community development. Together with like-minded groups, our goal is to connect theory, policy and practice in ways that expand and improve the ability of communities to design their own future. Below please find our responses to the questions raised with respect to your Notice 2015-134, Review of Basic Telecommunications Services .\~ }
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}
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1. What telecommunications services do Canadians consider necessary to participate in the digital economy?}
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Every community and every enterprise in Canada must now compete\~for business and talent in a }{\cf1\i\ai\rtlch \ltrch\loch
global}{\cf1\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 arena. Growth in productivity in that global arena has one common element, the Internet.  But in Canada, the discourse around economic growth does not appear to take this into consideration. And Canada is consistently falling behind other developed nations both in speed and penetration of broadband access.}{{\super \chftn{\*\footnote\ftnalt \chftn\pard\plain \s32\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\cf1\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\rtlch \ltrch\fs24
\tab  }{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
Coles, Terri.  (2015) "Canada's falling behind on broadband Internet access." Sept. 28. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/canadas-falling-behind-on-broadband-internet-195225479.html}
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}
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  }
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Telecommunities Canada (TC) members believe that broadband Internet access must be part of basic telecommunications service.  Such access must be equally available to all Canadians whether they live in urban, rural, or remote areas. It is as essential to social and economic development in the 21st century as sewage, clean water and electricity was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.   }
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}
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It is our view that Canada is currently under-estimating the effectiveness of community-based broadband solutions.  Canadian research}{{\super \chftn{\*\footnote\ftnalt \chftn\pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033{\rtlch \ltrch\loch\rtlch \ltrch
\tab  }{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
Middleton, C. A. (2008). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure as Public Infrastructure: Final Report of the Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project. Toronto: Ryerson University. }
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\tab http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=trsitm}
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}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 has identified seven reasons for developing public broadband infrastructure as local infrastructure: }
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}
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Broadband internet access is an essential service }
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Public broadband access can spur economic development }
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Public broadband networks can improve efficiency within municipalities }
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Municipal broadband networks can stimulate competition and improve service in local telecommunications markets }
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The deployment of public broadband networks improves citizen access to the internet and can help to bridge the digital divide }
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Public broadband networks can increase civic engagement both on and offline }
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The development of public broadband services can encourage local innovation }
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}
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By designing broadband infrastructure as a public utility}{\b\rtlch \ltrch\loch
,}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 communities can build networks that are open to all manner of competitors on equal and neutral terms and address b}{\cf1\b0\ab0\rtlch \ltrch\loch
arriers to participation - including availability, affordability, quality, and digital literacy \-- which prevent Canadians from meaningfully participating in the digital economy.}
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}
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Even in the context of a national digital economy strategy that is \'93market-based,\'94 locally owned networks are facilitating increased access, encouraging competition, fostering consumer choice, providing a basis for broad based economic inclusion and driving local socio-economic development.}{{\super \chftn{\*\footnote\ftnalt \chftn\pard\plain \s32\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\rtlch \ltrch\fs24
\tab  }{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
U.S. Gov. The White House. (2015). Community-based Broadband Solutions; The Benefits of Competition and Choice for Community Development and Highspeed Internet Access.  The Executive Offices of the President. January. }
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\tab https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/community-based_broadband_report_by_executive_office_of_the_president.pdf}
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The CRTC}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 should pro-actively support communities attempting to optimize the economic and social utility of networks. For example, it could }{\i\ai\rtlch \ltrch\loch
champion community owned broadband initiatives}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 as a way to engage with communities who are actively seeking to control their communications resources. There are a number of communities that have already taken on this role and others that are seeking to do so. }{{\super \chftn{\*\footnote\ftnalt \chftn\pard\plain \s29\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\rtlch \ltrch\fs24
\tab  }{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
Chung, Emily. (2013) "Small Alberta town gets massive 1,000 Mbps broadband boost." CBC News. July 18, 2013.}
\par \pard\plain \s29\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
\tab http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/small-alberta-town-gets-massive-1-000-mbps-broadband-boost-1.1382428}
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}
\par }}
}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
 The CRTC should }{\i\ai\rtlch \ltrch\loch
provide a forum for discussion of such activities and assistance in helping them implement their goals.}
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}
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2. Which services do Canadians rely on the most to communicate?\line }
\par \sect\sectd\sectunlocked1\pgwsxn12240\pghsxn15840\marglsxn1134\margrsxn1134\margtsxn1134\margbsxn1134\pgndec\sbkpage\pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\rtlch \ltrch\loch
Internet access is now essential for full participation in modern society.  A 2015 Pew Research survey showed that 69% of Americans believe that people lacking broadband at home are at a major disadvantage in at least one of these five areas -- getting news and information, getting health information, learning new things, accessing government services or looking for job opportunities.}{{\super \chftn{\*\footnote\ftnalt \chftn\pard\plain \s32\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\cf1\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
\tab Pew Research Center. (2015).  Home Broadband 2015. Dec. 21. }
\par \pard\plain \s32\li339\ri0\lin339\rin0\fi-339\sb0\sa0\noline\afs20\fs20{\afs24\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24
\tab http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/12/21/home-broadband-2015/}
\par }}
}
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Particular communication needs vary from region to region, from community to community and must be determined by the users themselves. They include tele-health, tele-education, e-commerce, e-banking, engaging in the political process, communicating with family, friends and government services. The Commission needs to ensure that the capacity to perform these basic tasks exists in every community in the nation regardless of location.}
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\rtlch \ltrch\loch
In order that Canadians can make full use of this service, digital literacy skills must also be supported.  In the words of one TC member: "}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
Not just the equipment, software, connectivity etc, but the continued support to adequately realize its value."}
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}
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3. Should the prices for telecommunications services in Canada be similar between urban and non-urban areas?\line }
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\b0\ab0\rtlch \ltrch\loch
Basic services must be affordable for all Canadians. This is far from the reality for many Canadians. One TC member in rural Saskatchewan reported that "}{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
We are certainly not treated equally in rural areas as there is no competition for services.\~ I pay over $100.00 per month for Internet service, $100.00 per month for a land line and $200.00 per month for a cell phone with family plan.\~ These amounts are the norm for rural folks.\~ We depend on the Internet to market our produce, communicate, do financial transactions as they are closing rural banks and credit unions all with unrialble service.\~Many folks are forced to discontinue their land lines because of the cost and stay with a cell phone but that is certainly lacking as there are\~dead service areas for long distances. and no WIFI."}
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\rtlch \ltrch\loch
It should also be recognized that many low-income Canadians and hard to serve communities will need assistance in these early stages of technological change.  It may seem antiquated in the current competitive climate, but cross-subsidization of urban-rural systems was a common way of achieving this in the early days of telephony.  We challenge the Commission to establish a funding mechanism to subsidize the deployment of broadband Internet access in areas where it is needed. }
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
In addition, local ownership can help resolve some issues. Communities that build and operate their own networks can realize tremendous savings and better reliability.  Where the market does not generate the optimal level of competition or investment in telecommunications infrastructure, the public and social enterprise sectors can step in to make investments, encourage competition and provide choice to users. }
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\b\ab\rtlch \ltrch\loch
4. What upload and download speeds for broadband Internet service would meet Canadians\'92 needs?}
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033\sb0\sa283{\cf1\rtlch \ltrch\loch
Current target speeds of 5Mbps download and 1Mbps upload are certainly not adequate. As an interim measure, these should be increased to match the current U.S. targets of 25Mbps. download and 3Mbps. upload -- actual, not advertised speeds.  However, the Commission should acknowledge that this will not be adequate to fulfill the objectives of the Telecommunications Act and must commit to regular review and upgrading of this target. }
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
There is no other way for our developed economy to sustain our current economic and social lifestyle but to become more productive.  There is no better way to do this than by utilizing smart digital technologies.  The public utility that sustains the use of those technologies is fast and affordable  broadband Internet access. }
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}
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033{\scaps0\caps0\cf2\expnd0\expndtw0\i0\b0\afs24\ab\rtlch \ltrch\loch\fs24\loch\f5
Sincerely}
\par \pard\plain \s0\nowidctlpar{\*\hyphen2\hyphlead2\hyphtrail2\hyphmax0}\aspalpha\ltrpar\cf0\kerning1\hich\af10\langfe2052\dbch\af8\afs24\alang1081\loch\f0\fs24\lang1033{\rtlch \ltrch\loch
}
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Marita Moll for}
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Telecommunities Canada}
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www.tc.ca}
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}
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}
\par }