After a full day of other files, the City of Toronto Executive Committee is finally deliberating ConnectTO!

The recommendations are found here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.EX20.8 will be sent to the full Council next week. First we'll hear from residents and experts with views on internet affordability.

feed is here. First up are representatives from @ACORNCanada who are calling for public control over the fibre infra which would result from the ConnectTO efforts.

ACORN's Peter D'Gama speaks to other successful municipal network efforts in other jurisdictions. Asks to continue the efforts to bring $10/mo internet to low income Torontonians.

Alejandra Ruiz Vargas also from ACORN is excited to see the city taking on the challenge of growing municipal fibre networks. ACORN has been fighting for this since 2016 at the federal level.

Vargas mentions the internet ends up more affordable in other jurisdiction. She mentions barriers like credit checks for low income people in Toronto. Telecom bills add to the stress of other soaring prices.

Next up is Bob Murphy also from ACORN. Big issue in so many communities, and happy to see that Toronto is taking the issue seriously. Especially during the covid pandemic. Murphy describes deciding between buying internet or food.

Murphy says Internet is a life line to those who have lost therapy and support avenues during the pandemic. He also says that anything that results from ConnectTO should stay public.

Murphy calls for free public wi-fi for city-owned recreation spots. Asks if the councilors can imagine needing to pick between internet access or food.

Next is @sambandrey from @RULeadLab who produced a study on affordability and accessibility in Toronto. Found here: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-159930.pdf

Andrey starts by saying that 98% have internet in the city, but despite that 38% of the respondents don't have access to the CRTC's Universal Service Objective of 50/10 service. "There remains significant gaps,' he says.

Next is @biancawylie who helped organize the civic response to Sidewalk Labs in Toronto. "Technology is not serving us all equally," she opens. Technology should keep civic power in the people who live in the communities.

"This report shows the City is willing to help us salvage things we should keep from our current models and make space to build differently. The procurement process forth is pilot is a place to put these requirements." says Wylie

Asked if anything could be differently, Wylie points to the public-private partnership approach to maintain connections to local communities.

Seneca professor Caroline Grammer who studies connectivity in older adult communities, explain the effects of solitude in covid-19. Connectivity has aided people coping with the massive changes in society.

Critical themes are emerging in a report Grammer is working on. Including the importance of low-cost option for internet connectivity as well as devices. There are also few programs that these senior populations are eligible to take advantage of for low-cost connections.

Next is @paologranata from the Media Ethics lab at U of T. Working to understand the digital divide in Toronto and the solutions. Today is not just about affordable or inclusive internet, he says, it's about building a vision of an equitable and sustainable future.

Digital access is critical for a list of human rights. Access to work, info and others flow from affordable access to internet, says Granata. Internet connectivity is key to achieve UN's SDG goals.

(I know SDG goals is redundant) Next is Ian Gallagher from BAI Communications in support of the digital municipal infrastructure model. They're the ones who build the Toronto Subway networks.

The subway cellular system is an open network, but as we've seen one the major incumbents don't want to engage with!

Equitable access would be accelerated with support from the City in partnership with private sector, says Gallagher. They're enthusiastic to participate and invest in the process.

Wendy Cukier from Ryerson's Diversity Institute. She speaks to costs that lack of connectivity imparts on people who live and businesses which operate in Toronto.

Lack of connectivity also effect educations in training while imparting a more significant impact on racialized populations. There's a link between the areas where there's a lack of affordable connectivity and outsized covid case count.

Cukier says equitable connectivity is profoundly important for economic develop and racial justice.

Nivedita Lane from Humber College speaks to socio-economic implications of internet access. She mentions the tools people need to connect to the internet. She also says that digital literacy is a key component of increasing equitable outcomes with connectivity.

Not just needing the ability to apply for jobs, people need to be able to tell if the job posting is real, says Lane.

The post-pandemic recovery won't happen in isolation. Strong partnerships with community, private sector and education are key, says Lane.

Questions to staff! Councilor Nunziata asks if community housing is involved and considered in the program. Staffer says yes, it's part of the effort. Asks about Rogers' Connect for Success program and if it's a model to be inspired from.

In reply, the staffer mentions the low uptake of the program and the low speeds available.

Councilor McKelvie, aks why fibre over wireless or 5G. And staffer, Lawrence Eta says that city already owns fibre assets and they can be extended. 5G is a possible choice as there's no pre-decided limitations on possible procurement options.

Eta confirms that there will be a call for projects with private sector and they will decide how to proceed based on the ability to deliver results quickly and efficiently.

Councilor Nunziata raises a motion to incorporate high speed access to low income housing development. Speaking to another meeting where a review of internet options at the TCHC was voted on.

The past few months has been a challenge for TCHC residents' internet connectivity. Thinks the project should move forward. "This is very good news for tenants in Toronto," Nunziata says.

Councilor Ainslie puts forward a motion to gain and leverage community expertise before tendering any projects or proposals. Which is a fantastic idea.

We didn't hear anyone who was conflicted about supporting connectTO, says Ainslie. (Alas the devil is in details!) But he continues to express the impacts of covid on the needs for connectivity in the city.

Deputy Mayor Thompson, thanks the speakers and mentions a lot of conversation with industry leaders. Thompson anticipated the effects of the covid pandemic on connectivity requirements. "They were dark days," he says, mentioning asking for assistance from Bell, Rogers and Telus.

"We're not done yet," says Thompson, there's lots more work to do. He asks the committee to really read the efforts of @lawrence_eta and his staff in the ConnectTO report.

Turning to the camera, @JohnTory speaks to how monumentally important the ConnectTO project is. Asks to think about students and homework needs during the pandemic with virtual studies.

Tory says that connectivity needs can emerge when kids are as young as Grade 3 or 4. There could be 10s of thousands this evening who might not be able to keep up with school as they lack access.

Tory also mentions the role the internet plays in keeping our seniors connected with their friends and family during the pandemic.