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    <p>It has taken years for the fed & prov governments to decide
      to work together on a broadband strategy. I have not delved into
      this -- the devil is usually in the details. But it seems an
      encouraging initiative.</p>
    <p>Marita<br>
    </p>
    <div class="moz-forward-container"><br>
      -------- Forwarded Message --------
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            <th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Subject:
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            <td>the principles of a Canadian broadband strategy</td>
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            <th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
            <td>Sat, 27 Oct 2018 00:32:41 -0300</td>
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            <th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
            <td>Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
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            <th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Reply-To:
            </th>
            <td>Brian Beaton <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:brian.beaton@KNET.CA"><brian.beaton@KNET.CA></a></td>
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            <th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">To: </th>
            <td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA">FIRSTMILE@LISTSERV.UNB.CA</a></td>
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      <br>
      <br>
      <div>FYI .. Just wanted to make sure everyone saw this press
        release from ISED ..</div>
      <div><br>
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        <p>From <strong><a
href="https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/10/federal-provincial-territorial-ministers-agree-to-the-principles-of-a-canadian-broadband-strategy-that-will-improve-access-to-high-speed-internet-f.html"
              moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/10/federal-provincial-territorial-ministers-agree-to-the-principles-of-a-canadian-broadband-strategy-that-will-improve-access-to-high-speed-internet-f.html</a></strong></p>
        <h2 id="wb-cont">Federal, provincial, territorial ministers
          agree to the principles of a Canadian broadband strategy that
          will improve access to high speed internet for all Canadians</h2>
        <div class="textimage-text">
          <h3><b>Better access to high speed internet will improve
              competitiveness and address digital divide</b></h3>
          <p><b>October 26, 2018</b> — Vancouver, British Columbia</p>
          <p>Today, federal, provincial and territorial ministers for
            innovation and economic development agreed to making
            broadband a priority and to develop a long-term strategy to
            improve access to high-speed Internet services for all
            Canadians. The commitment to a strategy is the latest
            outcome of this intergovernmental table focused on driving
            growth and job creation through innovation.</p>
          <p>Ministers recognize that access to high-speed Internet
            service is critical for businesses to grow and compete and
            for all Canadians to fully access the goods and services
            available in a digital economy. As outlined in a statement
            released today, Ministers agreed to work towards universal
            access to high-speed Internet and improve access to the
            latest mobile wireless services along major roads and where
            Canadians live and work.</p>
          <p>High speed connectivity is critical to the prosperity and
            wellbeing of Canadians particularly with the next-generation
            of high-quality networks that will especially enable smart
            cities, connected cars and e-health for Canadians.</p>
          <p>At the meeting, ministers were also briefed on the report
            from Canada’s <a
              href="https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/098.nsf/eng/h_00020.html"
              moz-do-not-send="true">Economic Strategy Tables</a>. This
            report identifies opportunities to create the conditions for
            strong, long-term competitiveness that will secure
            Canadians’ quality of life. Ministers agreed to consider the
            advice of the tables in advancing their two-year work plan
            in ways that will help companies to scale up and to adopt
            new technologies.</p>
          <p>Ministers also discussed the promotion of Indigenous
            economic development through partnerships among Indigenous
            businesses, non-Indigenous businesses and communities.</p>
          <h3>Statement by Ministers for Innovation and Economic
            Development on Connectivity</h3>
          <p>Ensuring universal access to high-speed Internet and mobile
            wireless networks is essential for long-term economic
            growth, innovation, and social progress for all Canadians
            across the country, and fundamental to success in the modern
            digital world.</p>
          <p>Whether its finding information online, selling goods and
            services to domestic and international markets, or providing
            e-health or online education services, Canadian consumers,
            businesses, and public institutions require broadband
            Internet connectivity to participate fully in the digital
            economy.</p>
          <p>To that end, we agree to build on existing collaboration
            and work together to enhance connectivity for all Canadians,
            along with private sector partners, municipalities, public
            institutions, Indigenous communities, and non-profit
            organizations to maximize the impact of our actions.</p>
          <p>As we move forward and engage in this work, we will be
            guided by the following connectivity principles:</p>
          <p><b>Access</b></p>
          <ul>
            <li>Access to reliable, high quality and affordable services
              are necessary for Canada’s success in a digital world, to
              allow all Canadian businesses, households, and public
              institutions to realize the economic and social benefits
              of connectivity through the use of advanced technologies
              and applications</li>
            <li>Work towards establishing universal access of at least
              50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload taking into context
              scalability and longer-term growth.</li>
            <li>Businesses should have access to networks that support
              their ability to utilize technology, compete, and
              contribute to the economy.</li>
            <li>Mobile connectivity on major highways and roads is an
              important need, including for safety.</li>
          </ul>
          <p><b>Collaboration</b></p>
          <ul>
            <li>Collaboration is essential to address the scope of the
              challenge and maximize the effect of our actions.</li>
            <li>Shared objectives and priorities will lead to better
              outcomes.</li>
            <li>Gathering, having access to, and sharing reliable data
              can significantly improve analysis and deployment
              strategies, as well as enable public reporting on
              progress.</li>
            <li>Recognize the unique circumstances of Indigenous
              communities, especially in remote and isolated locations.</li>
          </ul>
          <p><b>Effective Investments</b></p>
          <ul>
            <li>Targeting market failures allows governments to direct
              support to where it is needed most.</li>
            <li>Coordination of regulatory and spending levers helps
              ensure effective implementation.</li>
            <li>Open access requirements can promote competition,
              affordability, and greater choice and should therefore be
              considered.</li>
            <li>Addressing deployment barriers can significantly reduce
              constructions costs of digital infrastructure.</li>
          </ul>
        </div>
        <p> </p>
        <div>
          <h2>Quotes</h2>
          <blockquote data-emptytext="Blockquote">
            <p> “Access to reliable and quality high-speed Internet is
              no longer a luxury.  As a country, we have made incredible
              advances, building mobile networks that are among the
              fastest in the world and bringing broadband Internet to
              rural and remote communities across Canada.  Yet there is
              more to do.  The commitment to a strategy we made today
              reflects the ambition we all share to get all Canadians
              online and participating in the digital economy.”</p>
            <p>-- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation,
              Science and Economic Development, Government of Canada</p>
          </blockquote>
          <blockquote data-emptytext="Blockquote">
            <p>“We want to establish Canada and British Columbia as a
              preferred location for new and emerging technologies and
              ensure the benefits of tech and innovation are felt across
              the province. Many tech companies are small businesses and
              a reliable Internet connection keeps them at the leading
              edge of global technological advances. We look forward to
              collaborating with jurisdictions across Canada to foster
              job creation and economic development through innovation
              so Canada stays competitive, and continues to be a place
              where people want to live and do business.”</p>
            <p>-- The Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade
              and Technology, Government of British Columbia</p>
          </blockquote>
          <h2>Quick facts</h2>
          <ul>
            <li>Ministers committed to work towards universal access to
              benchmark Internet speeds of 50 Megabits per second
              download and 10 Megabits per second upload. In 2016, these
              speeds were available to 41% of Canadians in rural and
              remote areas.</li>
            <li>Mobile wireless services based on 4G Long Term Evolution
              technology were available to 98.5% of homes, but there are
              more substantial gaps along unpopulated areas of major
              roads.</li>
            <li>The number of connected devices per Canadian is expected
              to increase from 6 in 2016 to 11 by 2021.</li>
            <li>70% of teachers assign homework requiring Internet
              access; students with home Internet access have a 7%
              higher rate of graduation compared to those without.</li>
            <li>In December 2016, <a
href="https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications/news/2016/12/crtc-establishes-fund-attain-new-high-speed-internet-targets.html"
                moz-do-not-send="true">CRTC declared broadband a basic
                telecom service</a> for all Canadians.</li>
            <li>The ministers agreed to two-year <a
href="https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2017/10/federal-provincial-territorialministerstakeactiontospureconomicg.html"
                moz-do-not-send="true">work plan</a> when they last met,
              on October 13, 2017, in Vancouver. The work plan was
              developed to strengthen Canada’s competitive advantages
              and accelerate economic growth, create jobs and increase
              shared prosperity.</li>
          </ul>
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