CCSA Welcomes Telecommunications Affordability and Accessibility Report

QUISPAMSIS (NB), June 22, 2021 – The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) welcomes recommendations from the House of Commons Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) Committee which recognize and support the role that locally-based, independent service providers can and should play in ensuring Canadians have access to high quality and affordable broadband services, wherever they live.  

In its recently released report, Affordability and Accessibility of Telecommunications Services in Canada: Encouraging Competition to (Finally) Bridge the Digital Divide, the INDU Committee recognized the need to ensure access to high-speed Internet and a high-quality cellular network for 100% of Canadians, and made a number of important and welcome recommendations which, if implemented, will greatly advance that goal. 

“Many of the Committee’s recommendations rightly focus on how government can work with locally-based, independent internet service providers (ISPs) to extend broadband to rural Canadians,” said Jay Thomson, CCSA’s CEO, who appeared before the committee together with CCSA Board Member Ian Stevens, CEO of Execulink Telecom. “The recommendations to coordinate Canada’s broadband strategy, make wireless spectrum more affordable and accessible, simplify access to support structures, and prioritize government broadband funding for local and regional providers will, if implemented, greatly accelerate our shared goal of providing universal, affordable broadband in this country.”  

“That is because, as quoted in the Report, locally-based, independent ISPs ‘often have a better understanding of the situation in a region where they want to offer Internet service than do larger [providers], and…they are often more inclined to invest significant resources in the project,’” said Thomson.

 

ABOUT THE CCSA

The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) represents more than 100 Independent companies providing bundled internet, TV & telephone services to hundreds of thousands of Canadians in communities generally outside urban markets, from coast to coast to coast. CCSA Members include community cooperatives, family businesses, municipalities and companies owned by Indigenous Peoples. For more information, visit http://ccsaonline.ca.

 

CONTACT

 

Cheryl Mangusso

Manager, Communications

CCSA                                                                                                

Phone: (506) 849-1334 ext. 217                                              
Email:  cmangusso@ccsaonline.ca