The e-Community strategy leads to First Nations managed broadband systems that enable communities to administer data, applications, and services. It includes the capacity to assess and select IT solutions that are scalable, available, and sustainable. The e-Community strategy involves community IT and information management specialists to support local and regional systems. It frames broadband infrastructure as a cross-sector enabler for all aspects of program and service delivery.
The e-Community strategy requires capital and operational funds to build infrastructure and support ongoing operations and maintenance. The funding formula must be holistic to support all program areas. First Nations organizations can review the funding arrangements to identify resources for sustainable broadband development. They can do this in several ways. For example, one option would be to create broadband infrastructure as a new service area. Another is for different service sectors to pool together their technology funding and work toward an integrated approach (Whiteduck, G., Tenasco, O’Donnell, Whiteduck, T. & Lockhart, 2012).
Additional investments are required to build and manage local information management systems, and ensure the principles of OCAP are protected. Locally and regionally managed information management systems can create, build, expand and maintain e-Community initiatives. For example, in Kitigan Zibi, the e-Community strategy includes analysis of current and future local and regional economic data, training requirements and delivery milestones, local security and emergency information requirements, and the systems to support delivery and management of information (Whiteduck et al, 2012).
As a tool to support this work, the First Nations Innovation Project has developed a document that outlines a community-based broadband infrastructure and operations policy. Developed in late 2013, this First Nations Broadband Infrastructure and Operations Policy outlines a process for nation-to-nation discussions, negotiations and cooperation between First Nations and government stakeholders.