<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">quite a moment!!<div class="">loooong sought after!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""><div apple-content-edited="true" class="">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; " class=""><div class="">Peter Frampton</div><div class="">Executive Director</div><div class="">The Learning Enrichment Foundation</div><div class="">116 Industry St</div><div class="">Toronto, Ontario</div><div class="">M6M 4L8</div><div class="">P: 416-769-0830</div><div class="">F: 416-769-9912</div><div class="">E: <a href="mailto:pframpton@lefca.org" class="">pframpton@lefca.org</a></div><div class=""><a href="http://www.lefca.org" class="">www.lefca.org</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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<br class=""><div style=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Dec 21, 2016, at 4:24 PM, Marita Moll <<a href="mailto:mmoll@ca.inter.net" class="">mmoll@ca.inter.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class="">
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<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" class="">
<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 class="">
<br class="">
Marita<br class="">
<br class="">
-------- Forwarded Message --------
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" class="">Subject:
</th>
<td class="">WOW - CRTC establishes fund to attain new high-speed
Internet targets</td>
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<tr class="">
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" class="">Date: </th>
<td class="">Wed, 21 Dec 2016 17:12:39 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" class="">From: </th>
<td class="">Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" class="">Reply-To:
</th>
<td class="">Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" class="">To: </th>
<td class=""><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA">FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br class="">
<br class="">
<div class="">From <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599" class="">http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1172599</a></div>
<div class="">
<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;" class="">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;" class=""><em style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">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;" class="">December
21, 2016 – Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">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;" class="">Broadband and mobile services</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">Further
to its legislative mandate, the CRTC has set the following
targets<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight:
700;" class=""> </span>for<span style="box-sizing: border-box;
font-weight: 700;" class=""> </span>the basic telecommunications
services that Canadians need to participate in the digital
economy:<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight:
700;" class=""></span></p>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 11.5px;" class="">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">speeds of 50 megabits
per second (Mbps) download/10 Mbps upload for fixed
broadband Internet access services.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">an unlimited data
option for fixed broadband access services.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">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;" class="">New funding for broadband projects</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">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);" class="">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;" class="">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">make available up to
$750 million over the first five years;</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">be complementary to
existing and future private investment and public
funding;</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">focus on underserved
areas; and</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">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;" class="">Accessibility and tools for consumers</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">The path forward for Canada’s digital
economy</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">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);" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">Quick Facts</h2>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 11.5px;" class="">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">The CRTC is shifting
its regulatory focus from wireline voice to broadband
services.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">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);" class=""><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">“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;" class="">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;" class="">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;" class="">High
quality and reliable digital connectivity is essential
for the quality of life of Canadians and Canada’s
economic prosperity.”</p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" class="">-
Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman and CEO, CRTC</div>
</blockquote>
<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.1; color:
inherit; margin-bottom: 11.5px; font-size: 26px;
margin-top: 38px;" class="">Additional links</h2>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 11.5px;" class="">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><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);" class="">Backgrounder 1
– Summary of key decision points</a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><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);" class="">Backgrounder 2
– Further details regarding new funding mechanism</a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><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);" class="">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;" class=""><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);" class="">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;" class="">Contacts</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">Media
Relations<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">
(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);" class=""><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;" class="">General
Inquiries<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">
(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);" class=""><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;" class="">
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);" class=""><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;" class="">
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);" class=""><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;" class="">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/question.htm" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color:
transparent; color: rgb(120, 52, 188);" class="">Ask a question
or make a complaint</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 11.5px;" class="">Stay
Connected<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">
Follow us on Twitter <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://twitter.com/CRTCeng" style="box-sizing:
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