This Topic has discussed approaches to addressing digital divides that focus on working with Indigenous Nations and/or communities to set up and operate their own community networks. After initial capital investment and ongoing operational supports (the same supports that private-sector organizations ask to receive in these contexts) these Indigenous networks can re-invest any surplus revenues for activities such as: deploying/updating infrastructure, improving quality of service, or lowering prices for users. In cases where capacity may not be in place to support a local or regional non-profit service provider, organizations can partner with commercial providers tasked with building and managing services according to certain deployment requirements.
As discussed throughout this Topic, these community networking initiative face various challenges and barriers to their work. This final section summarizes some of the policy and regulatory issues that can enable (or constrict) the ongoing development and operations of these projects. They draw on research and policy proposals from Indigenous connectivity advocates, including members of the FMCC.
Regional Transport Networks
Regional backhaul fibre optic networks (essential for connectivity) must be made open access. The definition of open access must be made clearer. The pricing of wholesale bandwidth (particularly when provided through publicly-subsidized transport networks) should be regulated in cases where competition is not in place to help manage costs. Price regulation is more efficient that overbuilding transport networks in Northern regions.
Internet Exchange Points
More investment in Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Northern / Indigenous areas could help support connections, lower costs, and provide environmental benefits and better energy efficiency by reducing reliance on far-away cloud services and data centres. For example, there is a proposal underway to build an Arctic Internet Exchange involving IXPs in Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Labrador City. In B.C. there are also plans to establish a First Nations Internet Exchange Society.
Satellite
In the past, Indigenous non-profit telecommunications providers serving rural and Northern communities have been able to access ‘Public Benefit’ satellite capacity as a condition of the orbital licenses required to launch satellites. Proposals for launching constellations of thousands of satellites have been released by multiple parties, some supported through several hundred million dollars in public funding. Indigenous providers have asked: could an amount of reserve capacity on these satellite systems be made available to non-profit Indigenous broadband service providers?
Starlink’s satellite service has been proposed as a connectivity solution for remote and Indigenous communities. For example, the Nooksack Indian Tribe in Washington State recently set up Starlink services. Through so-called “Angel Accounts”, communities may receive priority access to Starlink, which is presently a beta service that is still being tested. However, Starlink is a relatively new commercial service, and raises several considerations:
- Starlink currently has a very limited customer base. Once more users get online, speed/service may decline from levels available today.
- Costs are relatively high: approximately $600 for equipment + $180 monthly fees. The Angel Investor program does not provide any discounts for end-users. Interested communities could inquire whether subsidized services are or will be made available.
- Reliability of the system is unclear at this time. While Starlink terminals appear to be easy to install, there are no local technicians available if something goes wrong.
- As a direct-to-home service, Starlink’s deployment model does not appear to allow any opportunity for community networks. Other satellite providers such as Telesat may allow for local access networks via satellite backhaul. An example of a satellite backhaul network that utilizes a community aggregator model is Tamaani Internet Services.
Mesh Networks
Finally, initiatives could support small-scale deployments led by communities – for example local mesh networks, such as NYC Mesh, which connects people in New York City with low-cost wi-fi. Not only do community-built mesh networks help fill connectivity gaps in a variety of contexts – including urban contexts – they also support digital literacy, as participants gain better understanding of connectivity infrastructure, and how the Internet works.
Here is a short video from CBC News that demonstrates how a mesh network works: