GATINEAU – The basic service objective (BSO) hearing changed mid-stream when CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais made the unprecedented move of delivering a statement declaring broadband “vital” to Canadians. After that, a National Broadband Strategy (NBS) – what should it look like, how do we get there and the role for the Commission – became a huge part of the discussions.
In his April 18 address to the hearing, he asked parties to think about these and other issues related to an NBS and present potential policies.
When Rogers Communications appeared before the commission in April, it raised the concept of a multi-stakeholder Advisory Council, not unlike the National Broadband Task Force from the early 2000s. In its final submission, the company said there should be three key objectives for such a council, one of them being to foster increased private sector investment.
The council could also take action relatively quickly to begin to address the issue, added Rogers’ submission. For example, the Advisory Council should have 12 months to “deliver concrete plans for projects that will address availability and adoption challenges,” the company said. It noted that during this period, a number of exercises will be done to inform the final plan. This will include a mapping process to determine where broadband remains unavailable and will likely remain unavailable without government funding and private sector initiatives.
Many agreed with the Rogers proposal that an Advisory Council was the right approach. For Telus, because previous and soon-to-be-launched government programs will result in near universal broadband coverage (if not adoption), an NBS should really focus on those lacking skills needed to use the Internet and those who see little value in it.
“More than a decade’s worth of significant infrastructure investment by government and the private sector, coupled with policies of supporting platform competition, has substantially increased the availability of broadband services in Canada. Going forward, given the current Canadian context, the evidence suggests that the primary focus of a Canadian NBS should be on adoption and integration,” the company said.
Others such as MTS and SaskTel noted that an NBS is already moving forward. The latter said these efforts have been ongoing with provincial governments stepping into the fray, the CRTC setting aspirational targets, Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) funding and ISP competition. However, it is just this sort of fragmented approach that chairman Blais criticized.
MTS noted as well that ISED has already started the process of determining how to allocate the $500 million earmarked for broadband in Budget 2016. It added that a May 20 department paper indicated that the funding will be focused one extending backbone infrastructure in underserved areas and on connecting anchor institutions such as schools, libraries and medical facilities.
Many suggested the CRTC has a role to play. It can provide a detailed national broadband plan and secure consensus to move forward, said the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA). As well, cooperating with ISED, the Commission can act as a hub in the effort while also being able to use its authority to set speed and quality of service standards as well as to establish funding mechanisms.
Cogeco Cable, on the other hand, said that while such a national endeavour will require participation from several groups, the lead role in an NBS should be played by the federal government. It added that any recommendations stemming from the BSO proceeding can be directed to appropriate officials who will have the reins of the national strategy.
Many parties argued in their final submissions that one of the keys to success for an NBS is to ensure there is no duplication of effort across government or governmental organizations. For example Eastlink said that if ISED’s recent initiative come to fruition first, then there is no need for the Commission to delve into it.
As for the industry itself, the company argued that they can provide advice on network construction and deployment.
“Industry’s contribution to the strategy would be appropriately focused on offering expertise on opportunities that exist for developing or upgrading internet service to the remaining areas in Canada where it is needed,” read Eastlink’s submission, “providing information and insight into programs that worked and those that did not, and implementing the build-outs to provide service once a plan is established.”
