Conference aims to find solutions to rural and remote broadband connectivity issues
A two-day conference at North Bay’s Canadore College is being held to discuss the future of broadband internet connectivity.
The Canada's Rural and Remote Broadband Community conference brings together groups looking at creating further opportunities for smaller, rural northern communities that need stronger internet connection.
Municipal leaders, rural advocates and internet service providers are discussing how to better connect northern Ontarians to broadband internet.
"Making sure that there's money available there to build and making sure that there's adequate supply chains and that the focus is on completing the build," said YorkNet general manager Laura Bradley.
YorkNet plans, builds, operates, manages and maintains a high-speed, dark-fibre network across York Region. It is focused on maintaining and expanding the region’s telecom network to support economic development and innovation.
YorkNet also provides internet service providers with open access to its network to enhance access to high-speed internet for residents and businesses. It currently provides service to about 40 rural and underserved communities in the York Region.
The goal of the conference is to better understand rural and remote broadband challenges and find new options to connect Canadians to stronger, faster broadband.
"A lot of the speakers have been talking about collaborating on solutions,” said conference founder and organizer Amedeo Bernardi.
“All levels of government, the vendors that are here look at new and innovative ways to look at connectivity."
The conference's keynote speaker is Bram Abramson, the new commissioner of the CRTC in Ontario.
"We know the existing processing can be demanding for smaller service providers,” Abramson said in a speech to the stakeholders.
“We want to make it faster and easier. That is hoping in many ways we are hoping you will come in."
The conference is addressing rural and remote broadband difficulties, an issue that came into sharp focus during the pandemic.
"COVID has raised the visibility of a problem many of us know,” Bradley said.
“I’ve been in the industry for 20 years and had to struggle with connectivity at that time. It lit the spotlight that many said needed to be there.”
According to the CRTC'S website, 91 per cent of Canadians have access to broadband speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) on download and 10 Mbps on upload and unlimited data connection. But only 62 per cent of rural communities have that strong connection.
"You've got to put those projects into gear. We have short building seasons,” said Bernardi.
“The farther north you go, the summer is very short."
The second day of the conference is focusing on Indigenous broadband projects and what can be done to further improve connectivity on reserves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
'Ninja,' Twitch's biggest streamer, is diagnosed with skin cancer
American gamer and Twitch superstar, Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, revealed he was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.