MPs wouldn't bite, though
GATINEAU – Rogers Communications told the CRTC Thursday that the National Broadband Task Force and the Information Highway Task Force can serve as models for a new national broadband strategy.
“And, because a strategy needs leadership to get results, we propose a multi-stakeholder advisory council to oversee the strategy’s implementation,” said David Watt, senior vice-president of regulatory at Rogers, on the ninth day of the Commission’s basic service objective hearing.
Under questioning, he added that this advisory council would be jointly led by the CRTC and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED, formerly Industry Canada). Municipalities, provincial governments, consumer groups and non-governmental organizations would also find a place in such a council.
“You have the authority to encourage people to actively participate, indeed to require them to participate,” said Watt, noting that the advisory council could also deal with the affordability issue. “Without this type of joint exercise, we’re not certain the problem is going to be addressed in the best manner possible because you will have a piecemeal approach.” In fact, that is the approach happening now, something CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais directly addressed in a personal commentary on Monday.
Rogers warned the Commission that going it alone without coordinating efforts with ISED may lead to inefficiencies and even more problems.
Because a fair bit of coordination would be required to identify the broadband gaps, both in terms of connectivity and affordability, working separately may not be the most effective approach, noted Watt. A CRTC regime – redirecting voice subsidies to broadband, as Rogers and Bell Canada have proposed – and a federal program with targeted funding may in fact result in duplicative efforts.
“Your programs could easily be working at cross-purposes. These things do need to be coordinated, both activities need to know where the gaps are,” he said. “So a considerable amount of work needs to be done and it shouldn’t be duplicated.”
The company noted in its presentation that it’s opposed to any industry-funded subsidies to extend broadband. Subsidies should be narrowly focused and come from government money, it added.
“We are not part of the modern world, we are not part of the modern economy until we get the Internet solved.” – David Graham, MP
Rogers said though that if the Commission determines a subsidy for broadband is required, then it should redirect voice subsidies to this type of effort. The subsidy should only be available for subsidy-eligible areas.
On the affordability front, Rogers spoke about its Connected for Success program that offers qualified low-income households a 10 Mbps/1 Mbps service at $9.99. Apart from that program which Rogers subsidizes as part of its commitment to social responsibility, the company’s basic broadband offering is a $33/month, 5/1 package, including the rental of the modem.
Pam Dinsmore, VP of regulatory for cable and broadband at Rogers (pictured above in a CPAC.ca screen cap) noted the company is expanding the reach of the Connected for Success service to New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador and is also working with an additional 21 partners in Ontario to bring the service to more low-income households.
Over the course of nearly two weeks of hearings, the Commission has heard about the difficulties some Canadians have in accessing broadband. On Thursday, two Quebec MPs also highlighted that access to broadband is a critical issue for their constituents and their communities.
David Graham, a Liberal MP for the Laurentides-Labelle riding near Montreal, noted that year after year, the gap between his constituents and other urban Canadians widens. People have to rely on the broadband connections of others to submit their children’s homework or even just get the news and check email.
The lack of broadband is the number one issue for his constituents, he said. “We are not part of the modern world, we are not part of the modern economy until we get the Internet solved.”
William Amos, the Liberal MP for the Pontiac region, noted that people want broadband more than they want other infrastructure fixed. Back in the day, a small town was equipped to thrive if it had a paved road. That’s not the case anymore, he noted.
“I’d say that I have more residents of Pontiac knocking on my door and sending me emails saying we need high speed Internet now than they’re saying please fix the potholes,” said Amos.
When pressed on how the new Liberal government can bring forward a national broadband strategy, the two MPs had no answers and also didn’t want to speak on behalf of their own government. They noted that while the federal government has announced a much needed broadband funding initiative (Budget 2016 committed $500 million), they said that the CRTC has its role to play as does the national government.
