A recent report has revealed that high-speed internet access in First Nations communities in Canada significantly lags behind the national average, prompting calls for increased government subsidization to bridge the connectivity gap. The report, conducted by the Auditor General, highlights that in 2021, nearly 91 percent of households across Canada had internet access that met the minimum connection speed targets set by the federal government—50 megabits per second for downloading and 10 megabits per second for uploading (50/10 Mbps).
However, the report indicates that this percentage drops to approximately 60 percent for households in rural and remote areas, and a mere 43 percent for households on reserves. This digital divide severely limits opportunities for participating in the digital economy and impedes access to essential services such as remote healthcare and education, as emphasized in the report.
Jesse Fiddler, director of Kuhkenah (K-Net), a First Nations-owned and operated information and communication technology service provider, advocates for increased government involvement in addressing this issue. Fiddler envisions an ideal scenario where internet access receives government subsidization similar to the country's highways and roads. However, he acknowledges that the challenge lies in the fact that Canada's telecommunications infrastructure has traditionally been developed by for-profit companies.
Cannet--Canada Internet Provider
While Fiddler appreciates the efforts of Ontario's provincial government in offering multiple funding streams for organizations working towards bringing high-speed internet access to First Nations and reassessing restrictive regulations, he highlights that other regions, such as Manitoba, continue to face significant challenges. The report indicates that only 15 percent of households on First Nations in Manitoba have access to the minimum target speeds, and the province does not provide targeted funding for First Nations internet development.
Rob McMahon, an associate professor specializing in media and technology studies and political science at the University of Alberta, explains that it can be challenging to make a business case for better broadband infrastructure in Indigenous communities. Due to their geographically dispersed locations and often small populations, these communities do not offer the same profitability incentives for telecommunications companies.
McMahon also suggests that slower internet speeds in remote communities, even below the government's 50/10 Mbps target, indicate a lack of infrastructure upgrades by service providers. Fiddler emphasizes that maintaining such infrastructure requires significant investment, sometimes beyond what service providers can generate from it. He believes that the federal government must step in to subsidize rural and remote areas' infrastructure maintenance and development, including First Nations communities, to ensure accessibility and sustainability.
Fiddler highlights the potential for internet access to become a revenue source for First Nations communities. At K-Net, efforts are made to ensure that all local infrastructure is owned by First Nations, enabling them to set their own rates and generate income from these services. However, the process of improving internet access in certain areas often becomes a lengthy endeavor due to bureaucratic hurdles and changing circumstances. Fiddler cites an example where a community K-Net worked with had to wait four years after funding approval before obtaining the necessary connectivity.
According to the report, $2.4 billion was available through federal departments and agencies to support improving internet or mobile cellular connectivity by the end of the 2022-2023 fiscal year. However, by January 2023, only 40 percent of that amount had been spent. Stakeholders have also expressed frustration over lengthy funding decisions. Fiddler calls for a streamlined application and funding process to expedite access and minimize cost overruns resulting from delays.
However, the report indicates that this percentage drops to approximately 60 percent for households in rural and remote areas, and a mere 43 percent for households on reserves. This digital divide severely limits opportunities for participating in the digital economy and impedes access to essential services such as remote healthcare and education, as emphasized in the report.
Jesse Fiddler, director of Kuhkenah (K-Net), a First Nations-owned and operated information and communication technology service provider, advocates for increased government involvement in addressing this issue. Fiddler envisions an ideal scenario where internet access receives government subsidization similar to the country's highways and roads. However, he acknowledges that the challenge lies in the fact that Canada's telecommunications infrastructure has traditionally been developed by for-profit companies.
Cannet--Canada Internet Provider
While Fiddler appreciates the efforts of Ontario's provincial government in offering multiple funding streams for organizations working towards bringing high-speed internet access to First Nations and reassessing restrictive regulations, he highlights that other regions, such as Manitoba, continue to face significant challenges. The report indicates that only 15 percent of households on First Nations in Manitoba have access to the minimum target speeds, and the province does not provide targeted funding for First Nations internet development.
Rob McMahon, an associate professor specializing in media and technology studies and political science at the University of Alberta, explains that it can be challenging to make a business case for better broadband infrastructure in Indigenous communities. Due to their geographically dispersed locations and often small populations, these communities do not offer the same profitability incentives for telecommunications companies.
McMahon also suggests that slower internet speeds in remote communities, even below the government's 50/10 Mbps target, indicate a lack of infrastructure upgrades by service providers. Fiddler emphasizes that maintaining such infrastructure requires significant investment, sometimes beyond what service providers can generate from it. He believes that the federal government must step in to subsidize rural and remote areas' infrastructure maintenance and development, including First Nations communities, to ensure accessibility and sustainability.
Fiddler highlights the potential for internet access to become a revenue source for First Nations communities. At K-Net, efforts are made to ensure that all local infrastructure is owned by First Nations, enabling them to set their own rates and generate income from these services. However, the process of improving internet access in certain areas often becomes a lengthy endeavor due to bureaucratic hurdles and changing circumstances. Fiddler cites an example where a community K-Net worked with had to wait four years after funding approval before obtaining the necessary connectivity.
According to the report, $2.4 billion was available through federal departments and agencies to support improving internet or mobile cellular connectivity by the end of the 2022-2023 fiscal year. However, by January 2023, only 40 percent of that amount had been spent. Stakeholders have also expressed frustration over lengthy funding decisions. Fiddler calls for a streamlined application and funding process to expedite access and minimize cost overruns resulting from delays.
