The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), today released a report that calls for establishing broadband as basic service for Canadians in the same way that telephone service was established as a need for every citizen in the last century. The report titled “Is Broadband Basic Service” describes the developments that have occurred in Europe and other countries worldwide that have made broadband service a basic right for citizens. It also sets out the models that have been evolved internationally to meet the goal and the principles that should be engaged in designing the delivery structure.
“Many consumers, particularly those in rural or remote areas, are not able to harness the full potential of the internet”, Michael Janigan, PIAC’s Executive Director stated, “Others may live in areas served by broadband providers, but lack the financial resources to obtain service”.
The report concludes that ‘access to broadband has important economic, social and cultural ramifications for Canadians and without it, Canadian consumers risk falling behind in today’s increasingly online interconnected world.’
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is an Ottawa-based consumer organization specializing in telecommunications services. Funding of the research on which this report was based was received from Industry Canada’s Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations. The views expressed in the report are not necessarily those of Industry Canada or the Government of Canada.
Is Broadband Basic Service report
Download File: is_broadband_basic_service_piac_aug_2010.pdf [size: 0.75 mb]