The First Mile

Supported by the SSHRC-funded First Nations Innovation Project

Telecom Decision CRTC 2010-637 (CRTC)

In August 2010, the CRTC approved Telecom Decision CRTC 2010-637, which states that telephone companies must spend the money in their deferral accounts to invest $421.9 million to expand broadband Internet service (broadband infrastructure and connectivity) to 287 rural and remote communities, many of which are First Nations. Any remainder funds are to be rebated to existing customers who live in non-high-cost serving areas (which excludes many rural and remote First Nations customers from receiving these rebates, given they are living in communities designated as ‘high-cost’ serving areas). The CRTC-approved service improvement plans provided by the major telcos do not include any First Nations located in designated high cost serving areas in northern Ontario.