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    <div class="moz-forward-container">They could have done this years
      ago, but finally the internet is recognized as a basic service and
      the idea of cross-subsidization has emerged from the political
      wilderness. Just as they did through the years of building an
      exceptional country-wide telephone system,  the providers must
      contribute to a fund to support small, rural and remote areas.  <br>
      <br>
      Marita<br>
      <br>
      -------- Forwarded Message --------
      <table class="moz-email-headers-table" border="0" cellpadding="0"
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        <tbody>
          <tr>
            <th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject:
            </th>
            <td>WOW - CRTC establishes fund to attain new high-speed
              Internet targets</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
            <td>Wed, 21 Dec 2016 17:12:39 -0400</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
            <td>Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Reply-To:
            </th>
            <td>Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
            <td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA">FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA</a></td>
          </tr>
        </tbody>
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      <br>
      <br>
      <div>From <a moz-do-not-send="true"
          href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599">http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599</a></div>
      <div>
        <div class="row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left:
          -15px; margin-right: -15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
          font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;
          font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;
          background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);">
          <div class="col-md-12" style="box-sizing: border-box;
            position: relative; min-height: 1px; padding-left: 15px;
            padding-right: 15px; float: left; width: 1170px;">
            <h1 id="wb-cont" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin:
              1.25em 0px 0.2em; line-height: 1.1; color: inherit;
              font-size: 34px; border-bottom-style: none;
              padding-bottom: 0.2em;">CRTC establishes fund to attain
              new high-speed Internet targets</h1>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div class="row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left:
          -15px; margin-right: -15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
          font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;
          font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;
          background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);">
          <div class="col-md-12 margin-top-large" style="box-sizing:
            border-box; position: relative; min-height: 1px;
            padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; float: left; width:
            1170px; margin-top: 1.5em !important;">
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;"><em
                style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wants Canadians to have
                access to an unlimited data plan option and speeds of at
                least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload</em></p>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">December
              21, 2016 – Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian Radio-television and
              Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)</p>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">The
              Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
              Commission (CRTC) today declared that broadband access
              Internet service is now considered a basic
              telecommunications service for all Canadians. The CRTC is
              also setting ambitious new speed targets and creating a
              new fund that will invest up to $750 million over and
              above existing government programs.</p>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Broadband and mobile services</h2>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">Further
              to its legislative mandate, the CRTC has set the following
              targets<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight:
                700;"> </span>for<span style="box-sizing: border-box;
                font-weight: 700;"> </span>the basic telecommunications
              services that Canadians need to participate in the digital
              economy:<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight:
                700;"></span></p>
            <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
              margin-bottom: 11.5px;">
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">speeds of 50 megabits
                per second (Mbps) download/10 Mbps upload for fixed
                broadband Internet access services.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">an unlimited data
                option for fixed broadband access services.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">the latest mobile
                wireless technology available not only in homes and
                businesses, but also along major Canadian roads.</li>
            </ul>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">New funding for broadband projects</h2>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">The
              CRTC is establishing a <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172419"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">fund</a> to
              support projects in areas that do not meet these targets.
              Applicants will be able to submit funding proposals in
              order to build or upgrade infrastructure for fixed and
              mobile broadband Internet access services. The fund will:</p>
            <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
              margin-bottom: 11.5px;">
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">make available up to
                $750 million over the first five years;</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">be complementary to
                existing and future private investment and public
                funding;</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">focus on underserved
                areas; and</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">be managed at arm’s
                length by a third party.</li>
            </ul>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Accessibility and tools for consumers</h2>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">The
              CRTC wants Canadians to have access to the tools and
              services they need to empower themselves regarding fixed
              Internet access services. No later than six months from
              today, service providers should ensure that contracts are
              written in clear and plain language, and should make
              available online tools so consumers can easily manage
              their data usage.</p>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">Also,
              all wireless service providers will have to offer and
              publicize, no later than six months from today, mobile
              service packages that meet the needs of Canadians with
              disabilities.</p>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">The path forward for Canada’s digital
              economy</h2>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">During
              its consultations with Canadians, the CRTC also identified
              further gaps regarding the adoption of broadband Internet
              services in Canada that are outside its core mandate.
              Today, the CRTC is submitting <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp161221/rp161221.htm"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">a report</a> to
              the Innovation Agenda, as encouraged by the Minister of
              Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, on
              the availability and adoption of broadband Internet
              services in Canada. This report includes information on
              access gaps resulting from infrastructure, affordability
              and digital literacy issues, as well as barriers to
              connectivity in Indigenous communities.</p>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">The
              decision issued today complements the Government of
              Canada’s Innovation Agenda. Looking ahead, the CRTC will
              contribute in ways appropriate to its mandate. However,
              all stakeholders have a role to play to ensure that
              broadband Internet service is universally available and
              barriers to adoption are removed.</p>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Quick Facts</h2>
            <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
              margin-bottom: 11.5px;">
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Broadband Internet
                access services are necessary to the quality of life for
                Canadians and empowers them as citizens, creators and
                consumers.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">While most are
                well-served, many Canadians, particularly those in rural
                and remote communities, do not have access to broadband
                Internet access services that are comparable to those
                offered to the vast majority of Canadians in terms of
                speed, capacity, quality and price.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Broadband Internet
                services would allow more Canadian entrepreneurs to
                easily access crucial information relating to
                international markets and create more business
                opportunities across Canada.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">In 2015, 82% of
                Canadians had access to speeds of 50 Mbps download/10
                Mbps upload for fixed broadband services.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">The CRTC is shifting
                its regulatory focus from wireline voice to broadband
                services.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Currently there is a
                subsidy for residential local voice services in rural
                and remote areas that amounted to approximately $100
                million in 2016.</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">The current local
                voice subsidy will now be transitioned to the new
                funding mechanism announced today (for projects that
                meet the new targets).</li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Further to a broad
                consultation, more than 50,000 Canadians provided their
                views on the telecommunications services they need to
                participate in the digital economy.</li>
            </ul>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Quote</h2>
            <blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 11.5px
              23px; margin: 0px 0px 23px; border-left-width: 5px;
              border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238,
              238);">
              <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">“Access
                to broadband Internet service is vital and a basic
                telecommunication service all Canadians are entitled to
                receive. Canadians who participated during our process
                told us that no matter where they live or work in our
                vast country — whether in a small town in northern
                Yukon, a rural area of eastern Quebec or in downtown
                Calgary — everyone needs access to high-quality fixed
                Internet and mobile services. We are doing our part to
                bring broadband services to rural and remote
                communities.</p>
              <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">The
                availability of broadband Internet, however, is an issue
                that can’t be solved by the CRTC alone. All players in
                the Canadian communications landscape will need to do
                their part to ensure Canadians have access to the
                services they need to participate in the digital
                economy.</p>
              <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">All
                levels of government must address gaps in digital
                literacy. Affordability concerns are best addressed by
                the emergence of a dynamic market place where service
                providers compete on price for telecommunication
                services, in conjunction with social responsibility
                programs of telecommunications carriers and different
                levels of government.</p>
              <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">High
                quality and reliable digital connectivity is essential
                for the quality of life of Canadians and Canada’s
                economic prosperity.”</p>
              <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">-
                Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman and CEO, CRTC</p>
            </blockquote>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Additional links</h2>
            <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
              margin-bottom: 11.5px;">
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a
                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172409"
                  style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                  transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">Backgrounder 1
                  – Summary of key decision points</a></li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a
                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172419"
                  style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                  transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">Backgrounder 2
                  – Further details regarding new funding mechanism</a></li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a
                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-496.htm"
                  style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                  transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">Telecom
                  Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-496 – Modern
                  telecommunications services – The path forward for
                  Canada’s digital economy</a></li>
              <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a
                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/internet.htm"
                  style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                  transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);">Basic
                  telecommunications services</a></li>
            </ul>
            <p class="text-center" style="box-sizing: border-box;
              margin: 0px 0px 11.5px; text-align: center;">- 30 -</p>
            <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
              inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
              margin-top: 38px;">Contacts</h2>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">Media
              Relations<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">
              (819) 997-9403 <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="tel:8199979403" title="Call: (819) 997-9403"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);"><span
                  class="glyphicon glyphicon-earphone" title="Call:
                  (819) 997-9403" style="box-sizing: border-box;
                  position: relative; top: 1px; display: inline-block;
                  font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings'; line-height: 1;
                  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></span></a></p>
            <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;">General
              Inquiries<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">
              (819) 997-0313 <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="tel:8199970313" title="Call: (819) 997-0313"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);"><span
                  class="glyphicon glyphicon-earphone" title="Call:
                  (819) 997-0313" style="box-sizing: border-box;
                  position: relative; top: 1px; display: inline-block;
                  font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings'; line-height: 1;
                  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></span></a><br
                style="box-sizing: border-box;">
              Toll-free: 1 (877) 249-CRTC (2782) <a
                moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:18772492782"
                title="Call: 1 (877) 249-2782" style="box-sizing:
                border-box; background-color: transparent; color:
                rgb(120, 52, 188);"><span class="glyphicon
                  glyphicon-earphone" title="Call: 1 (877) 249-2782"
                  style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;
                  top: 1px; display: inline-block; font-family:
                  'Glyphicons Halflings'; line-height: 1;
                  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></span></a><br
                style="box-sizing: border-box;">
              TTY: (819) 994-0423 <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="tel:8199940423" title="Call: (819) 994-0423"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
                transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);"><span
                  class="glyphicon glyphicon-earphone" title="Call:
                  (819) 994-0423" style="box-sizing: border-box;
                  position: relative; top: 1px; display: inline-block;
                  font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings'; line-height: 1;
                  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></span></a><br
                style="box-sizing: border-box;">
              <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/question.htm"
                style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
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