Is High Speed Internet a Human Right in Canada?
By Distributel
Can you imagine your day-to-day life without High Speed Internet?
In many respects, today’s technological advancements represent a digital and information revolution, impacting our civilization as profoundly as the industrial and agricultural revolutions did. Like these previous cultural shifts, we can expect the winds of change to create major advancements and opportunities, while leaving old technologies, processes and ways of life behind. It stands to reason then that Canadians will need access to fast, competitively priced High Speed Internet to reap the benefits of the technological age we live in.
Recognizing the need for Canadians to take advantage of emerging online opportunities, the CRTC has concluded that every Canadian should have access to a minimum download speed of 50 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps. While 82% of Canadians already have access to these speeds, the goal is 90% by 2021 and 100% within 15 years. This long-term strategy considers the challenges faced in servicing rural areas, and comes with incentives, including access to a $750 million fund directed toward infrastructure investment.
Is Access to High Speed Internet a Human Right?
Internationally, the debate about High Speed Internet as a human right has been gathering steam for more than a decade. In some ways, it’s difficult to think of High Speed Internet in the same vein as free speech, clean air or the right to vote. But in 2003, United Nation hosted the World Summit on the Information Society. The conference put forth the idea that everyone has a right to express themselves freely, and that the Internet was the vehicle for speech. In 2016, the U.N. issued a non-binding resolution that condemned any government from disrupting Internet access, stating that “the same rights people have offline must also be protected online”.
The decision from the CRTC takes this notion from the UN resolution, and essentially expands it to include the theory that one’s ability to achieve economic prosperity should not be limited due to lack of access to High Speed Internet. In particular, First Nations citizens and Canadians who live in rural areas should have access to the same great opportunities the rest of Canada does due to access to High Speed Internet.
Whether access to fast, dependable High Speed Internet ends up being defined as a human right, there is no question that we are entering a truly remarkable era where Canadians will have a fair chance to learn, express themselves openly and enjoy an increasing number of online opportunities, driven by a raised standard of service.
Distributel is a modern, independent High Speed Internet provider that offers the best range of services for each neighbourhood and individual address. Celebrating 30 years of experience delivering telecommunications services to Canadians, Distributel stands apart by providing a unique, consultative approach to the services we offer. You can trust you’ll receive the ultimate connectivity solution for your household, with preferential pricing, for unbeatable value.
Call us today at 1-877-810-2877 and make the simple switch.