Canadian broadband policy is under review. And, it should be. Through the years, Canada has taken a number of stabs at development of a national broadband strategy.
The CRTC is in the midst of its Notice of Consultation on the Wholesale High-speed Access Service Framework, including a significant reconsideration of regulatory tools for wholesale broadband. Furthermore, earlier this week, reply comments for the CRTC’s Broadband Fund Policy Review were due. These initiatives could have long-term impacts on the functioning of the Canadian broadband markets, access and the state of competition.
On Wednesday, October 18, a half day event in Toronto will examine national broadband policies in Canada, and around the world.
Participants will explore a variety of questions in pursuit of a successful broadband policy, including:
- What are the workable alternatives for government?
- How should everybody be included?
- How should companies invest and innovate?
- How should a competitive marketplace be built?
- How should the increased government funding for broadband be used?
- What will Artificial Intelligence and a metaverse mean for broadband policy?
National and international experts will provide perspectives from other countries and regions, together with discussions of on-going developments in Canada by senior government officials.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Andre Arbour, Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy, ISED
- Erik Bohlin, Professor, Ivey Business School, and Ivey Chair in Telecommunication Economics, Policy and Regulation
- Carlo Cambini, Professor, Politecnico di Torino
- Annegret Groebel, Director International Relations, Bundesnetzagentur
- Heather Hudson, Professor Emerita, University of San Francisco
- Sarah Oh Lam, Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
- Romel Mostafa, Director, Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, Ivey Business School
- Eli Noam, Professor, Columbia University
- Gérard Pogorel, Professor Emeritus, Télécom Paris
- Adam Scott, Vice Chair, CRTC
- Ian Scott, Former Chair, CRTC
- Georg Serentschy, Serentschy Advisory Services
- Glenn Woroch, Adjunct Professor, University of California at Berkeley
This workshop, Comparative Perspectives on Broadband Regulation and Access, is funded in part by the Ivey Chair in Telecommunication Economics, Policy and Regulation, as well as the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management at the Ivey Business School. Registration includes lunch, all sessions, and a cocktail reception to wrap up the day. It all takes place at Ivey’s Donald K. Johnson Centre in the Exchange Tower at 130 King Street West in the heart of Toronto’s financial district.
The full agenda [pdf, 450KB] and registration information are available on the event website.