Today’s posting comes from a loyal reader who was inspired by our recent comments [such as here and here] on the potential for the government to stimulate broadband accessibility as part of next week’s budget.
Next week, we are expecting that the Finance and Industry departments will likely announce some sort of funding program for universal broadband. The real challenge will be to implement it in a rational way.
My reader suggests that the CRTC has a lot of experience examining and approving individual projects (recall the Deferral Account program). That experience and the relevant staff might be put to good use rather than watching Industry Canada design a new system and training new people.
At the same time, he points out that the CRTC might want to revisit and revise their Basic Service Objective.
Currently, the CRTC’s definition of Basic Service refers to low speed (dial up) access to the Internet. With a national broadband stimulus program, we can no longer think of dial-up as basic.
Basic Service is defined in Decision 99-16:
- Individual line local service with touch-tone dialling, provided by a digital switch with capability to connect via low speed data transmission to the Internet at local rates;
- Enhanced calling features, including access to emergency services, Voice Message Relay service, and privacy protection features;
- Access to operator and directory assistance services;
- Access to the long distance network; and
- A copy of a current local telephone directory.
Memories of an era that gave us polyester leisure suits.
Much of the current definition of the Basic Service Objective has been rendered, arguably, if not clearly, out of date, by technology and market changes.
It is time for a review.