Last Friday, Industry Minister James Moore announced renewal of funding for the Computers for Schools program. Computers for Schools is an initiative that collects and refurbishes donated surplus computers for distribution to Canada’s schools, libraries, not-for-profit learning organizations and Aboriginal communities

The renewed funding will put about 280,000 refurbished computers into schools across Canada, creating opportunities for about 1,000 training jobs in doing the recycling work to extend the life of the “gently used” corporate computers.

This is a good program, but it does not go far enough.

The government press release claims:

Hundreds of thousands of young people will be given access to digital learning opportunities that they otherwise would not have had, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.

This appears to be an acknowledgment by the government that there are hundreds of thousands of Canadian young people who otherwise do no have access to a computer. Three years ago, I said that we needed one million computers to bridge the income-based digital divide.

Computers in schools are necessary but not sufficient to enable young people to succeed in a digital economy.

Kids do homework at home.

Our national digital strategy shouldn’t be satisfied with putting computers into schools; we need to make sure that every school aged kid in Canada has access to a connected computer at home.

Less than two weeks remain until Canada’s most important communications and information technology event of the year. Register now for The Canadian Telecom Summit!

The most influential leaders of the Canadian & International ICT industry will gather in Toronto from June 16-18 at The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Alone, any of our keynoters would be worth taking the time to listen to. The Canadian Telecom Summit brings you all them – and more than 50 panelists – over 3 unmatched days of presentations, discussions, idea sharing, relationship forming and even deal making.

The sector is front page news; more than ever, you need to take time to meet with the leading stakeholders of the industry.

Now in its 13th year, The Canadian Telecom Summit has grown to become Canada’s most important annual telecommunications & IT event, attracting hundreds of attendees from around the world.

No other event presents a complete picture of current and expected trends & developments. No other event matches The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit for the depth and breadth of topics covered and issues debated.

Here’s what you get:

• Topical Presentations;
• First-rate Keynote Speeches;
• Lively Discussion;
• Stimulating Sharing of Ideas;
• Many Networking Opportunities; and
• So Much More.

Come see why The Canadian Telecom Summit has become the only must-attend conference. With more opportunities than ever to learn, network and do business, if you are involved with or impacted by Canadian telecommunications, broadcasting or information technology, you need to be at The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Join your colleagues for 3 days of spirited discussion and networking. Register today for The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Visit http://www.telecomsummit.com to register today.

Why is so much hanging on sports programming?

Will over-the-top video ever be in a position to deliver a competitive alternative to more traditional broadcasters?

Will upgrades to IP networks match the quality sought by viewers who are investing in higher definition home theatres? Have prices for programming rights peaked or are more multi-billion dollar deals ahead?

If these are questions that interest you, then you should be attending The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Phil King, President – CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming, will be speaking at lunch on the 3rd day, June 18, of The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit. He will be interviewed by Michael Landsberg, host of TSN’s “Off The Record”.

A number of speakers will be addressing the future of TV; the conference opens on Monday June 16 with an address by Guy Laurence, President & CEO of Rogers and closes Wednesday June 18 with Pierre Dion, the new President & CEO of Quebecor. Jay Mehr, COO at Shaw Communications will be speaking on Tuesday afternoon, June 17.

Have you registered yet?

Over the course of the day, you should be receiving an email from The Canadian Telecom Summit, letting you know that the countdown has begun for Canada’s premier information and communications technology (ICT) event.

The most influential leaders of the Canadian & International ICT industry will gather in Toronto from June 16-18 at The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

No other event presents a complete picture of current and expected trends & developments.

No other event matches The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit for the depth and breadth of topics covered and issues debated.

Come see why The Canadian Telecom Summit has become the only must-attend conference. With more opportunities than ever to learn, network and do business, if you are involved with or impacted by Canadian telecommunications, broadcasting or information technology, you need to be at The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Join your colleagues for 3 days of spirited discussion and networking. Register today for The 2014 Canadian Telecom Summit.

I look forward to seeing you there.

What is a spectrum license worth?

It appears that the sale of Mobilicity to TELUS has fallen through, with raises the question of how should we value Mobilicity’s spectrum licenses?

In 2008, Mobilicity paid just over $243M for its AWS spectrum; its licenses were awarded in February 2009, starting the clock on 10-year licenses and an annual fee holiday for its AWS spectrum.

At the end of the 10-year licenses, there will be annual fees tied to the value of the spectrum. For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that the spectrum begins to attract annual fees of 10% of the original 10-year license fee.

So, what is the current value of the licenses? Is it roughly half of the amount paid originally because we are just over 5-years into the original 10-year license? Given that the government has made it clear that the spectrum cannot be bought by an incumbent, has new entrant spectrum decreased in value, beyond the depreciated value?

The spectrum doesn’t depreciate to zero at the end of the license period. Keep in mind that at the end of 10 years, the spectrum holder effectively has the first right to renew the license to continue its business.

What is the correct accounting treatment?

How should an investor look at the value of a spectrum license?