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[…]
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[…]
The FMCC made a submission and reply comments to ISED’s Consultation on Revisions to the 3500 MHz Band to Accommodate Flexible Use and Preliminary Consultation on Changes to the 3800 MHz Band. The FMCC submissions are available for download: FMCC submission to ISED consultation on 3500 MHz band FMCC reply comments to ISED consultation
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[…]
A collaboration between Piikani Youth Empowerment Strategies (Piikani Nation Secondary School and Peigan Board of Education) and the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta has received funding from the Internet Society’s Beyond the Net program. The project, titled Exploring digital literacy through the Piikani Cultural and Digital Literacy Camp Program, builds on a[…]
An article based on FMCC efforts at the CRTC is now published in the Journal of Information Policy. The article is co-authored by FMCC researchers Rob McMahon, Trevor Smith, and Tim Whiteduck. Reclaiming Geospatial Data and GIS Design for Indigenous-led Telecommunications Policy Advocacy: A Process Discussion of Mapping Broadband Availability in Remote and Northern Regions[…]
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[…]
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[…]
FMCC is participating in CRTC 2017-112 “Development of the Commission’s broadband funding regime”. These public proceedings examine matters related to the establishment of the broadband funding regime, including its governance, operating, and accountability frameworks, as well as eligibility and assessment criteria for proposed projects. For more information, the public notice is posted here. Requests for Information in CRTC 2017-122:[…]
Next week, the Indigenous Connectivity Summit (ICS) will be a unique event focused on connecting Indigenous communities in North America to the Internet. This community-led forum will showcase success stories of Indigenous community networks in Canada, the United States and around the globe to help find solutions to improve Internet access for all. The event[…]