[noemon]

In what is being described as a "historic" decision that will have a significant impact, particularly on the lives of those living in rural and First Nations communities, Canada's telecom agency on Wednesday issued a new rule declaring high-speed internet a basic service "necessary to the quality of life" of all Canadians.

canada_internet.jpg (36.13 KiB) Viewed 3199 times

"The future of our economy, our prosperity, and our society—indeed, the future of every citizen—requires us to set ambitious goals, and to get on with connecting all Canadians for the 21st century," said Jean-Pierre Blais, chair of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), at a news conference. "These goals are ambitious. They will not be easy to achieve and they will cost money. But we have no choice."

Under the new broadband strategy, the CRTC aims to provide 100 percent of Canadians access to reliable, world-class mobile and fixed Internet services, which will be available with an unlimited data option.

The agency has set the network speed target at 50 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. As of 2015, 82 percent of Canadians had access to that caliber of broadband.

In comparison, the United States' Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines "broadband" as 25 Mbps download and just 3 Mbps upload.

Further, the CRTC has set up a fund to support projects in areas that do not meet those targets, which will provide an additional $750 million above current government spending over five years.

"Canadians asked for universal internet access, support for rural communities, world-class speeds, unlimited data options, and minimum guarantees for the quality of their Internet," said Josh Tabish, campaigns director for OpenMedia, which led a citizen movement calling for internet as a basic service.

"We won it all, and there's no reason why other nations across the world can't do the same," Tabish observed, adding that he hopes Canada's action is replicated elsewhere.

"Countries all over the world face many of the same challenges as Canada, especially when it comes to delivering reliable, high-speed Internet to rural and remote communities," he said. "These challenges can be surmounted, but it will take real political will to do so. I believe [the] ruling will inspire people across the globe and help pressure decision-makers to do the right thing and ensure all their citizens can benefit from what the Internet can offer."

Many observers contrasted the CRTC's new declaration to the United States, where the incoming president is likely to roll-back open internet provisions as well as other basic services.

Geoff White, an attorney with the public interest group Affordable Access Coalition, explained that the ruling "stopped short of adopting proposals the coalition put forth to address affordability issues, such as setting a low price for a basic broadband plan or establishing monthly affordability subsidies for low-income households," the Globe and Mail reported. Nonetheless, he called the decision "important and transformational."

Indeed, Derek Wentzell, a community economic development consultant, declared the new program a "game changer" for remote First Nations.

The decision draws from a recent review of the nation's basic telecom services, which included public opinion polling. According to Blais, "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."

He added, "High quality and reliable digital connectivity is essential for the quality of life of Canadians and Canada's economic prosperity."

Common Dreams

Wow, this is truly unprecedented. Well done Canada!

[Rousse]

To function in the modern world, you really can't get by without internet access. It's becoming as much a necessity of life as schooling. Canada should be massively commended, for being ahead of the curve.

[blackjack21]

This is just more stupid posturing that is typical of Western societies. Exactly what does one do with this declaration? Are we going to invade the Congo and make sure everyone has internet access? Or are we just going to tell ourselves how great we are? How Canadian...

[Tewodros III]

This is just more stupid posturing that is typical of Western societies. Exactly what does one do with this declaration? Are we going to invade the Congo and make sure everyone has internet access? Or are we just going to tell ourselves how great we are? How Canadian...

Simple be like Akon:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon_Lighting_Africa, if this guy can donate money to give Third World countries electricity, I don't see why first countries can give an helping hand, it's the least you people can do, your products come from Africa through slave labor.

[XogGyux]

This is just more stupid posturing that is typical of Western societies. Exactly what does one do with this declaration? Are we going to invade the Congo and make sure everyone has internet access? Or are we just going to tell ourselves how great we are? How Canadian...

I don't think that is how it goes. We are not invading all the countries that are breaking other human rights (some of which we unequivocally agree are human rights), such as right to live, no slavery, fair trial, speech, etc.

I think this is rather propaganda/advertisement/bragging rights/etc. Don't get me wrong I still applaud them. I just think it is more of a political stunt rather than something with actual meaning.

[noemon]

This is about ensuring that everyone within their country gets high-speed broadband access.

[One Degree]

If they think all people should have it, then give it to them. To say it is a human right just makes an absurd term more absurd. How can you have a human right to something that was recently invented. All previous generations were deprived of a basic human right?

[Hong Wu]

They probably also want to control the internet and "fake news" which means they declared their ability to disseminate propogandize an individual "human right".

[fuser]

Now we need to make downloading torrents a fundamental human right too and this war will be won.

[Pants-of-dog]

Everyone seems so upset they called it a right. Which is interesting because they did not. They called it a basic service.

Now all we need is to ensure that all Canadians have access to potable water.

[One Degree]

Now all we need is to ensure that all Canadians have access to potable water.

Potable water is not a problem I would have ever associated with Canada, but I guess it would make sense in the heavily populated corridor. Is it bad?

[Rancid]

I would agree that internet access is as much a basic service/utility as water, electric, trash, etc.

[Pants-of-dog]

Potable water is not a problem I would have ever associated with Canada, but I guess it would make sense in the heavily populated corridor. Is it bad?

The populated areas have very good potable water. It is indigenous communities that lack potable water.

[Decky]

It must suck to be on a continent where nobody invented a sewage system.

[noemon]

@Decky Potable water is an issue in many rich countries with good sewage systems, Saudi has a major issue with it as does Israel as do many remote Greek islands(Elafonisos being one of them) because rainfall is simply not enough for everybody, someone should make a thread about it. It is not as simple as having sewage though. Potable water essentially comes from rainfall and snow at mountain peaks, countries with not enough of those features for their population face serious issues and have started making water from salt-water(desalination) but this is a costly process. This is the major reason and the secondary reason is that even if there is enough water to go around companies do not find it sustainable to take it everywhere because the cost of taking it to a village with little population is less than the potential profit and here is where nationalisation of such stuff makes sense.
You can read more :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_sup ... udi_Arabia

[Decky]

@Decky Potable water is an issue in many rich countries with good sewage systems, Saudi has a major issue with it as does Israel as do many remote Greek islands(Elafonisos being one of them) because rainfall is simply not enough for everybody, someone should make a thread about it. It is not as simple as having sewage though. Potable water essentially comes from rainfall and snow at mountain peaks, countries with not enough of those features for their population face serious issues and have started making water from salt-water(desalination) but this is a costly process. This is the major reason and the secondary reason is that even if there is enough water to go around companies do not find it sustainable to take it everywhere because the cost of taking it to a village with little population is less than the potential profit and here is where nationalisation of such stuff makes sense.
You can read more :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_sup ... udi_Arabia

So in other words it is no problem at all until you bring capitalists into it.

[Saeko]

Props to Canada. They know what they're doing up there.

[noemon]

So in other words it is no problem at all until you bring capitalists into it.

For some people it probably is, for the Saudis though it definitely isn't as they nationally control, electricity, water, gas(and all these things for home use are free of charge in Saudi) and so on and they invest a lot of money to get potable water but their country is literally waterless and despite all their money they still face issues with it.

Bottled water in Saudi costs more that petrol.

[Decky]

Well that is to be expected, it is a vast dry expanse of sand covering a huge lake of oil.

[Pants-of-dog]

It must suck to be on a continent where nobody invented a sewage system.

The Aztecs had a working sewer system when the Europeans arrived. The Europeans had to have the toilet explained.