This morning we ( @MOHAWKEMOTIONS and I!) took a #CloserLook at the digital divide(s) in Canada on @CBCNews. The issue(s) are well-documented: access, affordability, devices, literacy, generational. But we *also* need to revolutionize the business of the internet in Canada.

Unfortunately, the main providers ( @ShawInfo, @Telus, @Rogers and @Bell) have little to no economic incentive to invest in expending their networks to under-served communities; partially b/c they have to open up partial use of their networks to other companies, also $$.

Freakishly, this also lets them charge indie ISPs (like @TekSavvyBuzz) inflated wholesale internet rates while *simultaneously* undercutting them with flanker brands (basically discount poseurs that create the illusion of more competition). Um, what? Not cool.

Rogers does this thru Fido, Bell via Virgin, Videotron through their "Fizz" brand, and Shaw thru "Freedom." So the design of Canada's internet system - where companies compete on facilities AND services, endows the big players w/ MAJOR business intelligence on smaller upstarts.

Just to spell it out - the largest competitors know almost everything about smaller companies. People sort of hate the big telecoms and WANT alternatives, but it seems impossible for these alternatives to thrive in this regime.

For more: @ISED_CA has a National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/sitt/bbmap/hm.html?lang=eng

And a $1.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund will support high-speed Internet projects across the country: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/139.nsf/eng/h_00006.html

Here's an example of such a project, from a Toronto-based company "CanArctic Inuit Networks : https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canarctic-inuit-networks-plans-to-build-107-million-fibre-optic-cable/

Toronto is being extremely rad and helping residents in priority neighbourhoods get high-speed access w/o high prices (here's @christinedobby's coverage) https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/02/05/toronto-just-approved-a-wild-plan-to-build-a-public-internet-network-priced-lower-than-bell-or-rogers-will-it-work.html