WHEREAS community social and economic well-being is dependent on fast, reliable, and affordable broadband connectivity and better cellular coverage;
AND WHEREAS Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments as well as healthcare, education and other sectors will continue to depend on the internet to communicate, provide services and ensure accessibility to information;
AND WHEREAS digital literacy skills are essential to collaborate, innovate, and compete both regionally and globally and require appropriate and affordable broadband;
AND WHEREAS the availability of broadband that is on par with larger, urban areas in Canada is essential for Northern Ontario to achieve economic sustainability and social well-being;
AND WHEREAS in 2016 the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) requests that the internet be designated as an essential service and those efforts are undertaken to ensure all municipalities have access to affordable, fast, and reliable broadband;
AND WHEREAS the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) agreed that an option to explore and hopefully support would be the Starlink Program, by SpaceX;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of East Ferris agrees that Broadband is an essential service, and that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) should consider licensing Canadian and International Satellite Companies to fill that need and to compete with those presently acting in the communication field, as they have the private financial ability to move forward;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Federal Minister of Science, Innovation, and Economic Development, the Provincial Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, the Provincial Minister of Northern Development and Mines, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Northeastern MPs and MPPs, the Leaders of the Opposition Parties, and the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.