Report calls for ‘larger role’ for small rural broadband players

OTTAWA — The House of Commons standing committee on industry, science and technology has released recommendations on how the government should tackle the problem of rural broadband access in Canada that call for intentionally favouring small and non-traditional providers. “Smaller players, if given the opportunity, could likely play a larger role” in deploying rural broadband, said committee chairman and Liberal MP Dan Ruimy at a Tuesday morning press conference. “It's up to the government to put forward their response to our recommendations, but this is something that we clearly saw and heard from the people .” A bigger role for small providers was a running theme in the report’s 12 recommendations, which were based on testimony from 16 witness testimonies and 26 written submissions. The report tackled the CRTC’s updated basic service standards, which state all Canadians should have access to 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload internet speeds, among other requirements. The committee recommended that that the CRTC consider setting targets for other indicators, like latency and redundancy, and reassess speed targets to ensure they “remain relevant with technological development and international standards.” The move to support smaller providers was received positively by the Canadian Cable System Alliance (CCSA), according to a statement from CEO Jay Thomson. “We strongly agree with the Committee’s view that small providers could deploy broadband Internet in rural and remote areas in an economically profitable manner should the Government of Canada adapt the regulatory framework to their means, especially with regards to spectrum and network management, along with funding allocation,” he said. Executive director of the Canadian Wireless Internet Service Providers (CanWISP), Jonathan Black, was especially enthusiastic about the recommendation for fairer access to spectrum, but he also thought the recommendation for better internet quality metrics was critical. “Being held to account for quality is an issue, it’s going to hurt, but we believe it’s something good,” he said in a phone interview about the suggestion to add different indicators of service quality to the CRTC targets. Overall, Black said that the report was an encouraging move for small internet providers and people who live in rural areas. “If these are looked at seriously, rural Canadians will receive service more like their urban counterparts in the future, and we’ll be a more connected society,” said Black. Otherwise, the recommendations called for allocating the country’s spectrum more fairly to non-incumbent providers, and for more collaboration with “key stakeholders including, but not limited to, all levels of government, civil society, Internet services providers, First Nations, and non-profit organizations.” The report referenced programs like the Ontario-based SouthWestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc. (SWIFT), and the Mackenzie Fibre Line in the Northwest Territories as public-private partnerships to be emulated. The report also highlighted improving the way smaller providers can access infrastructure like utility poles and easements, mentioning this might require cooperation with provincial governments. Although the committee pointed toward the upcoming 600MHz spectrum auction as a way for small providers to access spectrum for fixed wireless use, the recommendations come too late to affect that process, admitted NDP MP Brian Masse. Innovation Canada released its framework for that auction in late March. A fixed wireless providers’ conference heard last month that the complexity of that auction is a barrier for smaller providers. Another set of recommendations in the report focused on the process of applying for government funding for rural broadband projects. Simplifying the application methods and ensuring that these programs are visible and non-traditional providers are made better aware of when and how to apply for them were two ways the report suggested the government could make a difference. One of the more ambitious recommendations was the creation of a national broadband strategy led by Industry, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada, which the committee said it should involve all levels of government. That’s also something former CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais called for in 2016. — With reporting by Bryson Masse at bmasse@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

Report calls for ‘larger role’ for small rural broadband players

News | April 17, 2018

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Report calls for ‘larger role’ for small rural broadband players

News | April 17, 2018

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