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[…]

ISED Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas gets poor grades from Auditor General

Posted on November 20, 2018November 20, 2018 by brianbeaton

From http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_201811_01_e_43199.html 2018 Fall Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada Report 1—Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas Table of Contents Introduction Background Rural and remote connectivity 1.1Accessibility to broadband high-speed Internet continues to lag behind for certain population groups in Canada, notably communities in rural and remote areas. This is despite[…]

Internet Society’s Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2018 – Blog post

Posted on November 13, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://www.newamerica.org/oti/blog/internet-societys-indigenous-connectivity-summit-2018/ Chris Ritzo produced this Blog Post highlighting FMCC and its partners after attending ISOC’s conference in Edmonton and Inuvik. Chris works with M-Lab and he delivered a passionate presentation about their work at the conference. Check it out at https://livestream.com/internetsociety/indigenet2018/videos/181775428 Internet Society’s Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2018 BLOG POST Photo credit: Chris Ritzo. By Chris Ritzo[…]

CRTC invites Canadians to share their views on the creation of an Internet Code

Posted on November 9, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/code.htm Internet Code: have your say! The CRTC is taking action to address consumer complaints about Internet services. Canadians rely on Internet services to connect with friends and family, to find jobs, pursue education and more. As more Canadians are using Internet services and with complaints on the rise, a new code of conduct is[…]

Canada commits to making broadband a priority and to develop a long-term strategy

Posted on October 26, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/10/federal-provincial-territorial-ministers-agree-to-the-principles-of-a-canadian-broadband-strategy-that-will-improve-access-to-high-speed-internet-f.html Federal, provincial, territorial ministers agree to the principles of a Canadian broadband strategy that will improve access to high speed internet for all Canadians Better access to high speed internet will improve competitiveness and address digital divide October 26, 2018 — Vancouver, British Columbia Today, federal, provincial and territorial ministers for innovation and economic development agreed[…]

FMCC partners with Internet Society in hosting Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2018 in Inuvik

Posted on October 14, 2018October 21, 2018 by brianbeaton

From https://www.internetsociety.org/events/indigenous-connectivity-summit/2018/ The 2018 Indigenous Connectivity Summit is an initiative of the Internet Society, University of Alberta, First Mile Connectivity Consortium, the Town of Inuvik, and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The Pre-Summit Training Session at University of Alberta in Edmonton The training session will be held on October 9, 8:30am – 4:30pm for Indigenous people who are currently operating[…]

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 research featured in special issue of Northern Public Affairs

Posted on September 28, 2018September 28, 2018 by robmcmahon

The journal Northern Public Affairs has published a special issue focused on connectivity in Northern and Indigenous communities. The issue includes research and commentary about Indigenous digital innovations in communities across northern Canada, and features several articles contributed by FMCC members. These articles include: A “whole-community” approach for sustainable digital infrastructure in remote and Northern First[…]

New CRTC Broadband Fund investing $750M in rural & remote telecom infrastructure

Posted on September 27, 2018 by brianbeaton

The new CRTC Broadband Infrastructure fund will use comparative selection process and includes community consultation requirements, including with respect to “any established or asserted Aboriginal or treaty rights” (para 219-224). From https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications/news/2018/09/crtc-announces-details-of-the-broadband-fund.html CRTC announces details of the Broadband Fund $750-million fund to improve broadband Internet access services in underserved areas September 27, 2018 – Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian[…]