ADVOCATE
Cybera frequently advocates for improvements to the quality and availability of digital services in Canada.
There is currently a lack of high-quality, high-speed and affordable digital services across Canada. We are working to change this. Teaming up with government, education, and the private sector, Cybera is creating a community that champions vital networking and computing services and utilities for everyone, everywhere.
Examples of Cybera’s Advocacy Efforts
- Advising the provincial government on its long-term information and communication technology infrastructure plans.
- Participating in federal proceedings on the future of broadband connectivity in Canada.
- Advising communities as they build their broadband policy frameworks.
- Participating in community network pilots.
- Delivering presentations on digital literacy and access.
- Championing shared services, network expansions, IPv6, and internet efficiencies at a local and international level.
- Participating in international coalitions on internet governance.
Telecommunications Landscape Assessments
Government Review Responses
Advocacy news
How federal decisions on wholesale rates impacts internet prices for all Canadians
On August 15, 2020, the federal government issued a controversial statement regarding an ongoing disagreement between incumbent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and wholesale internet providers over the wholesale rates set by the CRTC. In its statement, the government seemingly supported an argument advanced by Canada’s big three telecoms providers. They claimed that current regulations requiring […]
Federal Government’s hesitation to support fair wholesale rates could make internet less affordable for Canadians
This past Saturday, August 15, federal minister Navdeep Bains issued a statement expressing concern about the CRTC’s August 2019 decision to cut wholesale internet rates. He stated that “these [reduced] rates may undermine investment in high-quality networks, particularly in rural and remote areas.“ The CRTC is responsible for setting the rates that incumbent network operators […]
The ties that bind Alberta’s tech administrators
Between May 2019 and February 2020, Cybera held a series of half-day round table sessions in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary. Our goal was to review the digital resources currently being used by Alberta’s public and education sectors to create efficiencies and improve computational literacy. We also wanted to identify existing gaps. […]
Updating our review of Alberta’s connectivity crisis
In April, Cybera’s policy team created a white paper to highlight and address the internet crisis in Alberta. As COVID-19 continues to impact schools and businesses in the province, this problem of access and connectivity has not gone away. In the original white paper, we provided suggestions for how the provincial government and large ISPs can work […]
It’s time to get Canada connected
Cybera has joined a cross-Canada coalition of organizations and businesses who are pushing for widespread internet access to be made a priority by government and telcos. Even before the social distancing policies that have come into force to fight COVID-19, people have become increasingly reliant on the Internet to access work, education, training, government services […]
Cybera’s response to CRTC consultation on barriers to deploying broadband
Last week, Cybera submitted a response to the CRTC’s Notice of Consultation 2019-406: Call for comments regarding potential barriers to the deployment of broadband-capable networks in underserved areas in Canada. In 2018, the CRTC finalized the Broadband Fund, a $750 Million investment over five years to fund broadband-capable networks across Canada. Its intention is to: “Fund projects […]