Business groups push to narrow rural-urban digital divide – Chronicle Journal
November 19, 2024
Insufficient wireless network access in rural areas hinders businesses from competing digitally, limiting economic growth and restricting residents from accessing services like online education and telehealth.
Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, says this disparity creates a digital divide that hinders economic development and equitable access to essential services. Moreover, reliable cellular service is crucial for maintaining public safety and preventing interruptions within the supply chain.
The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Timmins and Greater Sudbury Chambers of Commerce on advice that has been adopted as Canadian Chamber policy and says they will continue to advocate to the federal government on what Robinson calls a “vital issue.”
“The government needs to reinvest a portion of the revenue from spectrum auctions into subsidies and incentives that would support new, innovative and robust networks,” she said. “There needs to be a focus on rural and remote areas, critical transportation routes and workforce programs that address shortages in skilled talent.”
