Universal and non-excludable broadband Internet access: A modest proposal for municipal provisioning of broadband as a basic service

Auteurs

  • Michel Mersereau Faculty of Information, University of Toronto

Mots-clés :

Universal broadband access, Internet policy, Internet access rights, Social technology inclusion, Municipal services

Résumé

This paper argues for localizing the provisioning of broadband internet access within the portfolio of municipal services with a view to achieving universal service penetration. In supporting this proposition, this paper first offers a critique of how the centralization of regulatory oversight at the federal level has proven problematic in meeting universal service objectives. The paper then presents a rationale and proposition for provisioning household broadband services in low-income urban areas through municipal social and subsidized housing undertakings, and as a partial redress to broadband disenfranchisement.

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Publiée

2021-07-23