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Rogers newest video, “Next is Now … More than Ever” offers a fast paced and often entertaining look at statistics that speak to how much Canadians value the Internet, smart appliances, the multi-screen experience with TVs and tablets, smartphone usage, digital wallets, and the resultant impact on health, government, education, and shopping.

A week ago, in its Rogers Innovation Report, we saw a preview of some of the data behind this video. Be sure to watch it.

Some of the factoids have important market implications. Many of these trends will be explored in depth in various sessions at The Canadian Telecom Summit from June 4-6.

Think about what it means that “54% now watch movies and TV on computers and the majority of tablet owners watch TV and tablets… at the same time.“ On June 5, our multi-screen panel will look at this and more with speakers Phil Hartling from Rogers, Paul Brannen from Samsung, Chris Hodgson from Google and Gary Schwartz from Impact Mobile and moderator Mike Abramsky.

Almost exactly halfway through the video, there is a snippet that struck me as most important for Canada’s national digital strategy: “For the first time in history, teens now do homework online as much as offline“.

I paused the video on that frame.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have been troubled by our collective failure to get computers into the homes of low income Canadians, especially households with school aged children.

As a country, we now have broadband service in nearly every home that has a computer; thanks to government initiatives and private sector leadership, we have access to a broadband service in even the most remote parts of the country. Yet half of all households in the lowest income quintile don’t have a computer, and therefore have no need for a broadband connection.

We need One Million Computers to bridge the digital divide. We need a Canadian carrier to step up to offer a program to connect low income households, similar to a program that has been launched in the US. The US has demonstrated that the government doesn’t need to throw money at this; but we need leadership.

Perhaps the Industry Minister will add such a program to the long delayed national digital strategy.

Perhaps the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development can lead with this under training and social services initiatives.

Perhaps the CRTC can explore a program for low income households with children when reviewing public benefits for broadcasting.

Or maybe we’ll find one of the industry participants to take it on themselves because it is the right thing to do – and it may even turn out to be profitable.

As the video shows, there are 20,000 educational apps that some kids can’t access as easily as others; three times more learning apps than colleges and universities in North America. It bothers me that there are kids in our city schools who don’t have access to these technologies. Kids who can’t benefit from these same opportunities that most Canadian households enjoy.

The video demonstrates the vision of continued growth, evolution and development for communications services and information technology providers. More bits, flying faster, with even greater reliance on new technologies and integrated services for work, school, shopping and play time.

As the Rogers video shows, next is now, more than ever. How can we help “next” to come now for all Canadians?

I was the lead-off witness in the hearing that led to that Decision. It was the job that brought me back to [...]]]> Four weeks from now, we will mark 20 years since the CRTC’s landmark Decision 92-12, “Competition in the provision of public long distance voice telephone services and related resale and sharing issues.”

I was the lead-off witness in the hearing that led to that Decision. It was the job that brought me back to Canada and I am grateful for that career decision.

Hard as it may be to imagine, among the issues we had to deal with was convincing the CRTC that competition itself was in the public interest. The Commission made the right decision:

Based on a thorough assessment of all of the information presented, the Commission has concluded that increased competition, subject to the appropriate terms and conditions, would be in the public interest.

The printed version of the Decision was more than 200 pages in each official language.

You should take a fresh look at the Decision. You may be surprised at the types of issues that needed to be settled: competitive safeguards, industry standards, access to emergency services and more. The decision gave birth to CISC processes and carrier services groups.

The very first Canadian Telecom Summit took place 10 years ago. The event was called “Celebrating 10 Years of Telecom Competition“. On June 12, we will be marking the 20th anniversary of that Decision. It is sometimes surprising how many issues continue to arise that we sought to resolve a generation ago.

We’ll mark the anniversary at this year’s Summit (coming up in less than 3 weeks), but our focus will be more forward looking. The theme this year is “Competition and Innovation: Celebrating our Legacy, Developing the Future“. Once again, we have speakers who are the most influential in leading the development and evolution of Canada’s communications sector.

Have you registered yet?

Here’s what you get:

The Canadian Telecom Summit is where representatives of all constituencies of Canada’s dynamic Telecom, Broadcasting and IT Industries gather to learn, [...]]]> The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit opens on June 4 in Toronto.

Here’s what you get:

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

The Canadian Telecom Summit is where representatives of all constituencies of Canada’s dynamic Telecom, Broadcasting and IT Industries gather to learn, exchange viewpoints, conduct business and offer & receive opinion.

These are 3 days well-spent, where services (current & future), technology (current & future), competitive issues, enunciation of broad visions, identification of major trends and establishment of policy are all on the table to be discussed and debated.

Decision makers and key influencers will be there. You need to be as well!

The Canadian Telecom Summit gives you the opportunity not only to hear from leading ICT executives but also to interact with them, not only to listen but also to influence.

Save almost $300 by registering before May 13.

Register today for The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Officially, “e-Commerce in Canada: Pursuing the Promise” is a Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology – a Parliamentary committee.

Despite weighing in at roughly 50 pages, the report is disappointingly light in substantive analysis. Indeed, the NDP provided a supplementary [...]]]> The parliamentary INDU committee released its report on e-commerce yesterday.

Officially, “e-Commerce in Canada: Pursuing the Promise” is a Report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology – a Parliamentary committee.

Despite weighing in at roughly 50 pages, the report is disappointingly light in substantive analysis. Indeed, the NDP provided a supplementary opinion that appeared more thoughtful in its brief 5 pages. The report looks at inhibitors to e-commerce adoption in Canada and it recommends ways to reduce “red tape” while simultaneously calling for bringing the Canada’s anti-spam bill into force, all the while not recognizing the impact that the legislation will have on communications from small businesses.

The Appendix A of the Report provides a summary of reports and programs that could impact e-commerce in Canada. Among the 10 items was the long overdue National Digital Strategy. The section starts with a description:

Based on the priorities identified in the 2010 Speech from the Throne and Budget 2010, the Government of Canada began a national consultation in May 2010 to solicit input on how to return Canada to a position of global leadership in the digital economy. The findings of the consultation were presented in Improving Canada’s Digital Advantage: Strategies for Sustainable Prosperity

On reading this, I thought I had missed the release of the consultation’s findings. The link to the document in the INDU report was broken, so perhaps that is why the Committee didn’t realize that this wasn’t a release of findings. That report can be found in the archives as the original consultation document. It seems to me that an official report from a Parliamentary Committee shouldn’t have such obvious errors in it.

Leading off the list of reports in the Appendix was “Innovation Canada: A Call to Action” which is better known as the Jenkins Report. Tom Jenkins, the chair of the expert panel on innovation, will be the closing speaker for The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit. You should be there.

Have you registered yet?

There is no other event quite like it. For 3 days, the leading stakeholders in Canada’s communications and IT sectors get together to review where we have been and discuss directions for the future.

Now in its 11th year, The Canadian Telecom [...]]]> The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit opens June 4, one month from today.

There is no other event quite like it. For 3 days, the leading stakeholders in Canada’s communications and IT sectors get together to review where we have been and discuss directions for the future.

Now in its 11th 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 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit for the depth and breadth of topics covered and issues debated.

Alone, any of our 18 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 deal making. With so many leaders gathered together in one place, a lot of business deals get done. Issues get reviewed in formal discussions in our business centre (sponsored by PwC), or over an espresso (sponsored by Allstream).

Come see why The Canadian Telecom Summit has become a 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 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit.

For Verizon, our most exciting growth opportunities occur where business and social interests intersect. You will read about both in this report, which for the first time [...]]]> Verizon’s Shared Success initiative sets a new standard for corporate social responsibility. Its 2011 Annual Report, “A truer connection” <pdf, 3.6MB> examines Financial and Corporate Responsibility Performance.

For Verizon, our most exciting growth opportunities occur where business and social interests intersect. You will read about both in this report, which for the first time combines our annual report with highlights of our corporate responsibility initiatives. Under the rubric of “shared success,” we are using our technological and philanthropic resources to address the world’s unmet social and environmental needs. In the process, we’re fueling the social innovation that will open new markets, drive our growth and reinforce Verizon’s vital role in the digital world.

I have written about corporate social responsibility in the past, such as this piece six years ago at the launch of the TELUS Toronto Community Board.

More recently, I challenged the preoccupation we seem to have with a rural-urban digital divide in the hope of getting attention placed on introduction of programs targeting low income households with school aged children. We don’t need to look far to find opportunities for fueling social innovation to open new markets. There are too many Canadians in urban centres who can’t afford a computer, let alone the monthly price of being connected.

Take some time to read about Verizon’s approach to Shared Success. According to foundation consulting group FSG, Verizon plans to measure the economic and social benefits of these new initiatives.

Doing well by doing good.

Everyone wants mobile broadband and the benefits it will bring. But few seem willing to pay for it [...]]]> It was fitting for the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union to call for more open lines of communication in exploring important issues. Hamadoun I. Touré was in Ottawa on Tuesday, addressing the CWTA Wireless Antenna Siting Forum.

Everyone wants mobile broadband and the benefits it will bring. But few seem willing to pay for it – including both the over-the-top players, who are generating vast new demand through their applications, and consumers, who have become accustomed to unlimited packages.

This is putting tremendous pressure on mobile operators, who need to invest in high-capacity broadband networks in order to maintain quality of service as demand rises.

At the same time, as broadband becomes increasingly viewed as basic infrastructure for social and economic development, operators are being asked to extend the reach of their networks to under-served populations.

These are strategic, bottom-line issues, and we need to be talking about them.

The Canadian Telecom Summit is where Canadians talk about issues such as these, in formal sessions like our Regulatory Blockbuster or in other panels, as well as informally over coffee or cocktails. From June 4-6, just a month from now, the leadership of all stakeholders will gather in Toronto for the 2012 edition of Canada’s leading information and communications industry event: The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Have you registered yet?

Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, contains provisions to amend the telecom act to permit foreign ownership of carriers that have less than 10% share of the total Canadian telecommunications market. This is accomplished by [...]]]> The budget implementation bill has introduced the expected changes to open Canada’s telecom market to more liberalized foreign ownership.

Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, contains provisions to amend the telecom act to permit foreign ownership of carriers that have less than 10% share of the total Canadian telecommunications market. This is accomplished by introducing an “or” clause (part c) to the eligibility section:

2. A Canadian carrier is eligible to operate as a telecommunications common carrier if

1. it is an entity incorporated, organized or continued under the laws of Canada or a province and is Canadian-owned and controlled;
2. it owns or operates only a transmission facility that is referred to in subsection (5); or
3. it has annual revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada that represent less than 10% of the total annual revenues, as determined by the Commission, from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada.

This definition is basically designed to cover all current telecom carriers in Canada other than Bell, Rogers and TELUS.

Foreign owned carriers can grow beyond the 10% limit, as long as it isn’t through acquisition:

6. A Canadian carrier that is eligible to operate under paragraph (2)(c) remains eligible to operate even if it has annual revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada that represent 10% or more of the total annual revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada as long as the increase in its annual revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada to 10% or more of the total annual revenues from the provision of telecommunications services in Canada did not result from the acquisition of control of another Canadian carrier or from the acquisition of assets used by another Canadian carrier to provide telecommunications services.

Foreign ownership will be among the areas discussed at the Regulatory Blockbuster at The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit, June 4-6 in Toronto.

In the text of his speech to Canada 3.0 earlier this week, Industry Minister Christian Paradis is quoted saying:

We know Canadians lead the world in Internet use.

But there remains a gap between rural and urban Canadians in terms of access to leading-edge broadband.

The press release [...]]]> Is the rural-urban digital divide growing?

In the text of his speech to Canada 3.0 earlier this week, Industry Minister Christian Paradis is quoted saying:

We know Canadians lead the world in Internet use.

But there remains a gap between rural and urban Canadians in terms of access to leading-edge broadband.

The press release that accompanied his address used slightly different language:

The Minister underlined the Harper Government’s commitment to creating a competitive and viable digital sector, promoting greater adoption of technology across the entire Canadian economy and bridging the growing gap between urban and rural Canadians.

In the text of the speech, the Minister did not use the adjective “growing”. A review of the video of the actual speech seems to correspond to the distributed text, stating that there is a gap, but not calling it a “growing gap.”

In fact, the digital services available to rural and urban Canadians are increasingly similar, thanks to massive levels of investment by the private sector, supplemented by strategic investments by various levels of government. Xplornet has begun to offer service on its fourth generation satellite, and rural subscribers also have access to savings through bundles, thanks to a Shaw, Xplornet joint marketing agreement.

If there is a “growing gap” in adoption of digital services, it is based on household income. That is a problem that spans our vast national geography.

For Canada to lead in a global digital economy, we need to develop digital literacy and access among low-income Canadians. Nearly half of the households in the lowest income quintile have no computer at home, let alone a broadband connection. That is more than a million households with no computer.

To bridge that gap, we need a program that can work in the urban core of Canada’s largest cities as well as in remote regions. The information technology and communications services industries need to do more to expand opportunities for economically disadvantaged households.

We need to start with ensuring that all school aged kids have access to a connected home computer. That is an objective that is measurable and attainable. The US introduced a program last fall that has no government funding, just leadership.

In his address at Canada 3.0, the Minister indicated that the long overdue national digital strategy will be released later this year and will include components to address a literate workforce: “when we put that strategy forward, it will only succeed if industry as well as federal, provincial and territorial governments work together.”

Greg O’Brien, editor of Cartt.ca, engaged the Minister following his address in Stratford.

I asked: “Is there a way for your office to say ‘hey Rogers, hey Bell, hey CRTC, let’s get together and get this program put together where we can, for $10 a month, get broadband to low income families in Canadian cities, who are being bypassed by the digital world?”

His answer: “The principle is what I said: We don’t want any (digital) gap. We want to have as (many) Canadians as possible to have access to the internet, rural, urban, and of course if there are some other possibilities that could be looked at, why not? We have to work together. We have to understand the provinces, the federal government, the private sector – this is exactly why I said let’s work together so if some interesting things are worth it to look at, this is something we can look at for sure. If there are some good ideas that can be repeated here, why not?”

You should read Greg’s Commentary: Canada 3.0 COMMENT: Is Canadian broadband for all, do-able? Maybe, says the Minister.

Minister Paradis will be delivering a keynote address on June 5 at The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit (June 4-6 in Toronto). Greg will be the moderator of the Regulatory Blockbuster panel earlier that day. On June 6, there is a panel looking at Building a Digital Canada.

We’ll be looking for an action plan to address the real digital divide – based on income.

The proposed CCA format has many advantages. The exposure risk is eliminated, anti-competitive [...]]]> Industry Canada issued its Consultation on the Licensing Framework for the 700 MHz Band, proposing the use of a Combinatorial Clock Auction (CCA) format to replace the Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending that has been used for 5 of the 6 auctions held to date.

The proposed CCA format has many advantages. The exposure risk is eliminated, anti-competitive behaviour is reduced, substitution among similar licences is enhanced and the auction duration will likely be reduced.

The proposed switch to a new auction format appears to be a recognition by Industry Canada that there were problems with the last format, as the incumbent carriers had charged:

The use of a set-aside can also impair the auction process. As Rogers, Bell and TELUS all illustrated, the set-aside created gaming opportunities that were exploited by almost all the new entrants, removing hundreds of millions of dollars from the wireless industry.

The department will hold an information session for potential bidders on May 30 (registration required by May 14). The session will be held in Ottawa, but it will also be webcast.

And it will certainly be a source of discussion and debate at The 2012 Canadian Telecom Summit on June 4-6 in Toronto. Have you registered yet?