Cooperation between government, commercial telcos and non-profit providers can support connectivity and innovation in northern and Indigenous communities

For-profit business models are simply not designed to service northern and Indigenous communities' internet needs. COVID-19 offers an opportunity to change business as usual.

Above all, in the spirit of reconciliation and the context of COVID-19, government could provide direct funding to the non-profit and Indigenous service providers operating in high-cost service areas, writes Rob McMahon. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Opinion

BY ROB MCMAHON

October 26, 2020

EDMONTON—As people are increasingly working, studying, and accessing public services online, COVID-19 provides overwhelming evidence of the need for high-speed, affordable, adequate broadband as an essential service. It also provides opportunities to consider the wa...

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