Research proves the connectivity barriers faced by Indigenous communities are very real, and very limiting

Posted on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by robmcmahon

Original article by Cybera; republished with permission The ConnectIN project was a two-year pilot project evaluating the internet connectivity in First Nations communities in BC, Alberta and Manitoba. Led by three First Nations’ regional technology organizations, and facilitated by Cybera, the goal of this project was to better assess gaps in infrastructure and services. ConnectIN wrapped up[…]

Internet access key to protecting threatened Indigenous languages: Toronto Star

Posted on June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 by robmcmahon

By Crystal Gail Fraser and Mark Buell “An Act Respecting Indigenous Languages has good intentions, but we can’t ignore a critical piece of the puzzle missing from its fine print. Bill C-91’s goal to protect, promote and revitalize the nearly 90 Indigenous languages left in Canada can’t be fully realized until rural, remote and northern[…]

Community-owned & operated Broadband: Rural Spark Podcast

Posted on May 12, 2019May 12, 2019 by brianbeaton

Select the PLAY link at the link above or DIY Broadband: a solution for remote communities? onRural Spark Learn how some remote communities are becoming their own internet service providers. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/diy-broadband-a-solution-for-remote-communities/id1449859399?i=1000437617949

Fort Severn First Nation Satellite Broadband Upgrade a Relief for the Community

Posted on February 14, 2019 by brianbeaton

From http://knet.ca/content/fort-severn-first-nation-satellite-broadband-upgrade-relief-community – Submitted by alvinfiddler on Thu, 2019-02-14 Ontario’s most northern remote First Nation has completed a broadband upgrade that has made a real impact. Everyday services are affected by broadband speeds, not just email and web browsing. Fort Severn First Nation is located 715km north of Sioux Lookout and uses satellite broadband for access to health[…]

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[…]

Pikangikum FN connects to provincial electrical grid through Wataynikaneyap Power project

Posted on December 21, 2018 by brianbeaton

INAC Press Release Pikangikum First Nation marks historic connection to provincial electrical grid through Indigenous-led Wataynikaneyap Power project Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) Dec 20, 2018 PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION, TREATY 5 TERRITORY, ON, Dec. 20, 2018/CNW/ – The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with First Nations to build critical community infrastructure and invest in[…]

First Mile partners featured in this year’s Global Information Society Watch report on Community Networks

Posted on November 27, 2018 by brianbeaton

First Mile partners featured in this year’s Global Information Society Watch report on Community Networks as the Canadian contribution. The chapter is found at https://www.giswatch.org/node/6034 and can be downloaded at https://giswatch.org/sites/default/files/gw2018_canada_0.pdf From https://www.giswatch.org/community-networks Global Information Society Watch Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) is a collaborative community committed to building an open, inclusive and sustainable information society. 2018[…]

Social Finance program receives $805M investment from federal gov’t

Posted on November 23, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://ccednet-rcdec.ca/en/new-in-ced/2018/11/22/government-canada-invests-805m-social-finance Government of Canada Invests $805M in Social Finance Posted: November 22, 2018 Since the creation of a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy for Canada was included in the 2015 Ministerial mandate letters, the federal government has taken steps to develop a strategy, culminating in the release last August of the recommendations of the Co-Creation[…]

Northern remote communities partner with academics to test mobile mesh networking technology

Posted on November 22, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://news.uoguelph.ca/2018/11/u-of-g-computer-scientists-part-of-2-13-million-project-to-improve-data-sharing-in-northern-remote-places/ U of G Computer Scientists Part of $2.13-Million Project to Improve Data Sharing in Northern, Remote Places Friday, November 2, 2018 Nic Durish It’s called Canada’s digital divide, one that University of Guelph researchers aim to help bridge. Improving communications, information-sharing and health and environmental monitoring through better mobile connectivity in Northern and remote[…]