'They need this to participate in society': OpenMedia on high-speed internet ruling
The ruling will give equal access to all Canadians, including those in remote or rural areas
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ruled today that access to high-speed internet access should be deemed an essential service to all Canadians no matter where they live in the country.
"We are so excited. This is precedent setting … this hasn't happened for anything since the telephone," Laura Tribe, executive director of OpenMedia, told As It Happens host Carol Off following the ruling Wednesday.
- CRTC to rule on whether internet is an essential service
- Why Canadians are spending more on wireless and internet services
- Federal government spending $500M to expand high-speed Internet to remote communities
The CRTC wants access to include unlimited data plan options and new speed targets and ordered the country's internet providers to begin working toward having the same quality service and speeds in remote and rural areas.
"What we've really seen in Canada is that Canadians consistently pay some of the highest prices in the world for internet service for middle of the road access and that's if you live in an urban centre, let alone if you live in rural areas or up in the north," Tribe said.
"This gives Canadians world-class reliable internet which is such a shift from what so many Canadians are currently experiencing."
"I miss out on doing research and learning details about all sorts of things that i like to learn," Simonsen said. "If it was faster there would be so much opportunity for everybody in the north to stay connected, learn things, research things, find connections, find products, find information. I think that educational part is hugely underestimated."
The new targets for internet providers set by today's ruling include customers in all parts of the country having download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps.
So, who will pay for this?
The national regulator said that it will require providers pay into a fund that will grow to $750 million over the next five years.
"We're [also] looking for a national broadband strategy from the government and we're waiting to see what the federal government will do to lead," Tribe said.
Tribe said that they saw almost 50,000 Canadians speak up and "demand affordable internet, sharing their stories of how current services are impacting their lives.
"They need this to participate in society ... if you don't have access to those services and technology, it really does put you at a disadvantage."