We all want 5 bars on our mobile devices, but no one seems to want a tower within sight. We want faster broadband connections, but without digging up our roads.
Across the country, neighbourhood groups have mobilized against carriers seeking to improve their wireless coverage [see for example]. More than 3 years ago, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities issued a report “Highway Robbery: How Federal Telecom Rules Cost Taxpayers and Damage Public Roads” (see my post from that time).
Against this backdrop, how do we advance the state of digital infrastructure?
The CRTC has issued a public notice, launching a proceeding to consider a model Municipal Access Agreement.
The introduction of competition in the provision of telecommunications services has led to an increase in the number of carriers in the industry. Concomitantly, there has been an increase in the demand for access to municipal rights-of-way, such as street crossings and other municipal property, for the purposes of installing, operating, and maintaining transmission facilities.
With this consultation, the Commission is looking to develop a model agreement through a two-step process. First, this public consultation seeks input on what types of considerations should be part of the model agreement and what policy matters need to be addressed in respect to access to public property. In the second step, the Commission envisions establishing an ad-hoc working group to develop the terms and conditions to be included in the model agreement, based on the results of the first step.