Empowerment through Connectivity: 2018 Indigenous Connectivity Summit Community Report

Posted on January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 by brianbeaton

From https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018-Indigenous-Connectivity-Summit-Community-Report_EN.pdf Recommendations to ensure access for all One of the biggest connectivity challenges in Canada, for those who have access, is that its broadband prices are among the highest in the world. When the CRTC declared all Canadian households should have high-speed broadband as a basic telecommunications service in 2016, it called on the[…]

Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review

Posted on January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 by brianbeaton

ONE WEEK LEFT before submissions are due .. From their web site at https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/110.nsf/eng/home .. The Panel is committed to providing relevant, practical and implementable recommendations to government and invites written submissions in response to its review of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework. In response to comments from several parties, the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review[…]

FMCC presentation to Review Panel of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework

Posted on October 4, 2018October 9, 2018 by brianbeaton

First Mile Connectivity Consortium executive board members, Susan O’Donnell (Vice-President) and Brian Beaton (Treasurer), met with two members of the Review of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework Panel. The meeting took place in Halifax on Wednesday, Oct 3 and included two secretariat members from the two federal departments responsible for these communication legislative acts, ISED and[…]

FMCC files comments to CRTC (2017-359) on Future Programming Distribution Models

Posted on December 5, 2017December 5, 2017 by brianbeaton

On Friday, December 1, 2017, FMCC filed our comments on the Future Programming Distribution Models with the CRTC. The CRTC put out this Call for Comments in response to the Governor in Council’s request for a report on future programming distribution models to be presented before June 1, 2018 (https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-359.htm and https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-359-1.htm). FMCC’s submission is available for[…]

First Mile team presents at several conference at Congress 2017

Posted on June 11, 2017June 12, 2017 by brianbeaton

The First Mile work in First Nations across Canada (http://firstmile.ca) was well represented at Congress 2017 during the week long event held at Ryerson University in Toronto the week of May 27 to June 2. At the Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER), Rob was a member of a panel presenting the chapter he[…]

FMCC team participates in Indigenous Radio Halifax workshop

Posted on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 by brianbeaton

Brian Beaton and Susan O’Donnell, members of the FMCC Board of Directors travelled to Halifax on May 17 to participate in the Indigenous Radio Workshop at Dalhousie University. The presentations and notes about the day long workshop will be posted on their web site at http://www.indigenousradio.ca/Halifax.php Brian delivered his presentation entitled, “e-Centres: Community-based production/broadcast facilities”. His[…]

The Arctic Broadband Forum 2017 presentations from May 8-9 available online

Posted on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 by brianbeaton

The Arctic Broadband Forum 2017 brought together educators, researchers and industry from across the World to discuss the challenges, successes and potential of telecommunications and broadband deployment in the Arctic. Specific emphasis was placed on the role of broadband and digital technologies on the cultural preservation and self-determination of indigenous populations throughout the Arctic. The forum[…]

Guiding Canada’s Future Investment in Rural Infrastructure – Presentation to Senate Committee

Posted on May 17, 2017October 6, 2017 by brianbeaton

Guiding Canada’s Future Investment in Rural Infrastructure A presentation was recently delivered to the Senate Committee on National Finance regarding rural infrastructure investment. The Senate Committee has been studying the design and delivery of the government’s infrastructure commitment, and has asked for comments to address the effects of future infrastructure investments on rural development in Canada. The[…]

FMCC intervention in Northwestel’s request to CRTC for forbearance

Posted on March 10, 2017 by brianbeaton

The First Mile Connectivity Consortium (FMCC) filed the attached intervention letter concerning Northwestel’s application for forbearance concerning the delivery of broadband services in the Northwest Territories. We are sharing this document with everyone in the hope that it might be useful to you. If there are problems with the concerns we are raising about Northwestel[…]

First Mile representative meets with Matawa First Nations broadband team

Posted on January 17, 2017January 22, 2017 by brianbeaton

Brian Beaton met today (Tuesday, January 17, 2017) via videoconference with the Matawa First Nations broadband team during their meetings in Thunder Bay. Brian introduced the Matawa team to the work of the First Mile Connectivity Consortium. Discussions included: introductions Description of the work being undertaken by the Matawa First Nations broadband team What is[…]