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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>
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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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<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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<div>FYI .. Just wanted to make sure everyone saw this press
release from ISED ..</div>
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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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