Advocacy

Cybera’s response to CRTC consultation on barriers to deploying broadband

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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 …

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New white paper addresses the connectivity crisis in Alberta

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The current COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the connectivity issues faced by rural Albertans. There is an opportunity for the provincial government, and large internet service providers (ISPs), to work together to fix this problem, now. Our policy team has developed a white paper highlighting the current need in the province, and proposing actionable next steps …

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Research proves the connectivity barriers faced by Indigenous communities are very real, and very limiting

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The ConnectIN project was a two-year pilot project evaluating the internet connectivity in First Nations communities in BC, Alberta and Manitoba. Led by three First Nations’ regional technology organizations, and facilitated by Cybera, the goal of this project was to better assess gaps in infrastructure and services. ConnectIN wrapped up in February 2020. In this post, we …

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An overview of the CRTC’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review

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On January 30, the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel released its final report on Canada’s Communications Future: Time to Act. The panel was appointed in June 2018 to review the country’s communication legislative framework, including the Telecommunications Act, Radiocommunication Act, and the  Broadcasting Act. The panel’s 97 recommendations cover a wide range of subjects, …

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Cybera’s response to the Competition Bureau’s review of anti-competitive conduct in the digital economy

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Last week, Cybera submitted a response to the Competition Bureau’s call for comments on anti-competitive conduct in the digital economy. In its discussion document, the Competition Bureau called attention to the increasing market concentration of certain core digital markets, including digital platforms such as Facebook and Google. The Bureau noted the role that big data …

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Cybera’s response to telco petition to increase wholesale internet rates

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Last week, Canada’s largest telecommunications providers, including Bell, Rogers and Telus, petitioned the federal government to reverse the CRTC’s August 2019 decision to lower wholesale rates. These rates are what the large telecommunication firms charge to resellers to provide internet services.  In its August 2019 decision, the CRTC stated that; “The Commission considers that the …

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Data transfers and consumer privacy part two: Cybera’s response to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada

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In early September, Cybera submitted its response to a consultation by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada on the modernization of Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). (This followed our August submission to an Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) consultation on transfers for processing.) Comments were requested on a number …

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In places with no internet connectivity, Alberta libraries offer a lifeline

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When you look at the total geographic region that the Peace Library System covers, you get a good sense of some of the challenges faced by its IT Services Manager, Janet Ayles. Peace Library basically serves the entire top-left corner of Alberta. With 46 libraries spread over 238,000 square kilometres, Ayles sees a broad range …

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Cybera Supports SWIFT Call For Equal Access to the CRTC’s Broadband Fund

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Bright/translucent lines: Areas where SWIFT estimates internet service provider offer service packages with speeds that meet or exceed CRTC’s 50/10 “basic service” target. Dark hexagons: Areas considered served/ineligible to apply to CRTC fund. Last week, Cybera submitted a letter in support of Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT)’s appeal to the CRTC to reconsider its Broadband …

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Cybera’s Case to the Telecommunications Legislative Review

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Last week, Cybera submitted a brief to the federal government’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel. The panel has been tasked with reviewing Canada’s communication legislative framework in the digital age, focusing on issues of content creation, net neutrality and cultural diversity, and how to strengthen the future of Canadian media. We would like to …

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Cybera’s Chief Operating Officer Selected To Sit On Alberta’s Talent Advisory Council on Technology

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Cybera’s Barb Carra is one of 16 Albertans selected to form the province’s Talent Advisory Council on Technology. Together, they will provide advice and input to the Government of Alberta on strategies, investments and outcomes on tech-related training programs. The council – a mix of leaders from the tech industry and post-secondary institutions, along with student and labour …

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Why rural connectivity is an issue for EVERY Canadian

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As part of our core mandate, Cybera continually pushes for the democratization of technology access in Canada. We’ve seen some major policy successes over the years — particularly with the CRTC decision to mandate bandwidth as a basic communications service needed by everyone. We’re also pleased to see increasing investments by governments (from the municipal …

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New Canadian data mining tool analyzes how public submissions affect regulatory decisions

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When the CRTC sought submissions to its 2015 consultation on “Basic Telecommunications Services,” thousands of people offered their opinions on what the future of Canada’s internet should look like. For the first time ever, these submissions have been made searchable via a single, simple-to-use platform, and a surprisingly varied narrative of struggles and concerns has …

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