First Mile Connectivity Consortium
The First Mile Connectivity Consortium (FMCC) is a registered national non-profit organization in Canada. The FMCC membership includes First Nations community-based telecommunications organizations serving remote and rural communities. These organizations represent the telecom interests of the citizens in their member communities. FMCC research associates include experts on the topic of broadband infrastructure and digital technology adoption in remote and rural communities. From the links below you can access the following information:
The FMCC was established to provide the following services:
- Advisory services
- Research, publications and writing services
- Digital and multimedia production
- Networking activities and event organization
- Promotion and outreach services
- Training and capacity-building
- Other services as decided upon by members
The FMCC is primarily engaged in developing evidence-based policy related to broadband infrastructure, digital services and technology adoption in remote and rural communities. We focus on federal regulations and policy. Our work to date has contributed primarily to the CRTC (the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) and Industry Canada. The CRTC creates regulations about broadband infrastructure and information and communication technologies (ICT) that concern First Nations. FMCC becomes involved in other policy development opportunities with Industry Canada and other government bodies when they can potentially support First Nation control and ownership of broadband infrastructure and ICT.
The FMCC approach to policy and regulatory interventions is as follows:
- All interventions are collective on behalf of the FMCC membership. FMCC members are free to submit their own, independent positions.
- FMCC staff will develop and distribute a formal (draft) proposal of key points, arguments, strategies and evidence to its members for input.
- FMCC staff assume will responsibility for the final presentation and keep members informed of final submission and any outcome.
- FMCC will use the consensus method to solicit feedback: members will be provided with a deadline to contribute feedback, after which FMCC staff will move forward the intervention.
- FMCC members are offered an opportunity to add their organization’s name to intervention.
To learn more about this policy development work, check out the FMCC section of this website or contact FMCC Coordinator Rob McMahon : info@firstmile.ca