Last week, the Auditor General of Canada released a report on “Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas” that concluded, among other things, that the government “did not implement its Connect to Innovate program for broadband improvement in a way that ensured the maximum broadband expansion for the public money spent.”
So I found it interesting that in the same week, we learned the CRTC will be adding 60 people, at an annual cost of $10M, just to manage its new $150M per year broadband fund.
Recall, when the CRTC release its Decision 2018-377: Development of the Commission’s Broadband Fund, the CRTC concluded “The Commission acknowledges that the use of its own expertise, staff, and institutional capability for the implementation and operation of the selection process, as well as the monitoring and enforcement of the conditions of funding, would be efficient, cost-effective, and timely.”
Before reaching its conclusion, the CRTC acknowledged “Many parties… suggested either assigning ISED as the project manager or leveraging ISED’s expertise through collaboration between ISED and the Commission. These parties argued that leveraging the Commission’s and/or ISED’s resources would be efficient, avoid duplication and unnecessary delays, and result in more money being available to fund broadband projects.”
Sixty new people, at a cost of $10M per year, to implement the Broadband Fund. Remember, this is what the CRTC says is the “efficient, cost-effective” approach.
Yet another regulatory cost that ultimately drives higher consumer prices.