FMCC publication featured by Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council

Posted on June 25, 2018September 25, 2018 by brianbeaton

The new e-book publication by the First Mile Connectivity Consortium team is featured this month on the SSHRC web site along with a short story about the First Nations Innovation research project. From http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/stories-histoires/story-histoire-eng.aspx?story_id=270 Breaking trails: Stories from the First Mile Date published: 21/06/2018 4:00:00 PM Photo: Jesse Fiddler/Stories from the First Mile – First Mile Connectivity[…]

New book available for download – Stories from the First Mile: Digital technologies in remote and rural Indigenous communities

Posted on April 14, 2018April 16, 2018 by susanodonnell

April 16, 2018 — Across Canada, remote and rural Indigenous communities have been building and delivering broadband services to people in rural and remote communities. A new book celebrates the achievements of these communities associated with the First Nations Innovation (FNI) research project (2005-2018), and the First Mile Connectivity Consortium (2013-ongoing). During the 13 years[…]

New social enterprises working with Indigenous communities win financial support

Posted on April 1, 2018 by brianbeaton

Winners of the Ryerson / Google.org Impact Challenge announced this past week .. https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/canada2017 .. “10 IDEAS TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD, FASTER” .. Most of them have possible implications for Indigenous communities .. 1. The Arctic Eider Society Sea ice, or “siku”, is integral to the way of life of tens of thousands of Inuit living in[…]

First Nations in Manitoba building community-owned fibre networks

Posted on January 9, 2018 by brianbeaton

From ISED News Release More than 100 rural communities in Manitoba will benefit from faster Internet $83.9 million will improve high-speed Internet coverage in the province, allowing residents to get online faster January 9, 2018 – Winnipeg, Manitoba The Government of Canada is helping close the connectivity gap in Manitoba through a combined investment of $83.9 million[…]

University of Vienna doctoral thesis: Indigenizing the Internet highlight KO-KNET work in remote First Nations

Posted on December 31, 2017December 31, 2017 by brianbeaton

From Philipp Budka’s web site at http://www.philbu.net/projects.html Philipp’s dissertation project at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Vienna investigated the creation, development, and utilization of broadband internet infrastructures, technologies, and services by indigenous people and communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. (Budka, P. (2017). Indigenizing the Internet: Socio-technical change, technology appropriation and digital practices in remote First Nation[…]

FMCC team featured on CIRA blog

Posted on December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 by robmcmahon

The following article was posted by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. CIRA’s Community Investment Program celebrates its fifth year – Part 2: The First Mile Connectivity Consortium CIRA is embarking on the fifth year of its Community Investment Program. Canadian not-for-profits doing good things for and through the internet can apply for a CIRA grant[…]

Nunavik to get cellular service in 2018 & begin phased fibre roll-out

Posted on December 4, 2017 by brianbeaton

From http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavik_to_get_cellular_service_in_2018/ Nunavik to get cellular service in 2018 Regional government will embark on first phase of fibre optic roll-out next year SARAH ROGERS The first phase of the KRG’s upcoming plans to deliver higher-speed Internet to Nunavik includes a combination of technologies, including fibre optic along some Hudson coast communities, a microwave tower link connecting[…]

Internet as an act of reconciliation – article by Mark Buell

Posted on November 18, 2017 by brianbeaton

From http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/11/17/internet-act-reconciliation/126066?platform=hootsuite Internet as an act of reconciliation The internet is a powerful tool for change, but we can’t meaningfully move forward as a country if anyone is left behind. Mark Buell writes that Internet access is still characterized by high costs, low speeds, data caps, and poor or non-existent service in many rural and remote[…]

Matawa First Nations get $69.2M to build First Mile fibre-to-the-home network

Posted on October 6, 2017 by brianbeaton

Thursday, October 5, 2017 MATAWA FIRST NATIONS WELCOME REQUIRED FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL INVESTMENTS TO PROCEED WITH A STATE OF THE ART FIBRE-TO-THE-HOME HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET THUNDER BAY, ON: Matawa First Nations today welcomed funding commitments to assist in bringing state of the art fibre-to-the-home high-speed broadband to internet dead spots in 5 fly-in/remote First Nations[…]

Building Community WiFi in Maskwacis, AB

Posted on August 29, 2017February 27, 2019 by robmcmahon

Members of Maskwacis First Nation in Alberta can now access free WiFi, thanks to the efforts of local tech entrepreneur Bruce Buffalo. Visit the website for Mamawapowin Technology Society Bruce has developed a system that offers four free access points in his community. Community members can connect to the network through a web-based gateway, which[…]