No hexagons for UBF, Monsef confirms

The federal government’s upcoming $1.7 billion Universal Broadband Fund won’t use the often-criticised hexagon mapping system, Rural Development Minister Maryam Monsef told the House industry committee. “We’ve learned from Connect to Innovate, and we build on that knowledge in our design of the new Universal Broadband Fund. For example, the hexagon model to track and map connectivity across the country is no more,” Monsef said during a video appearance at committee Monday evening. “We now have the ability to track household connectivity status to within 250 metres. Greater precision will allow applicants to submit more targeted projects and connect underserved Canadians.” Mosef’s predecessor in the rural development ministry indicated a year ago the government was looking to use more granular data than what the hexagon system could provide. Hexagon mapping divides the country into 25 square-kilometer sections, and has been criticized for not being specific enough to accurately capture all areas lacking high-speed broadband infrastructure, including by the auditor general in a fall 2018 report. Monsef’s appearance at the committee comes nearly two weeks after she told The Wire Report the federal government will accelerate its rural broadband rollout in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, something the major opposition parties also agree needs to be done. Monsef reiterated Monday that “we’ve had a plan and now because of COVID it’s even more urgent that we proceed quickly. I want to assure Canadians that we get it, that we’re on it, and we will work with every willing partner to achieve our shared goals.” Last week the committee heard from advocacy group OpenMedia and representatives from smaller telecoms about what could be done to improve rural broadband rollouts. “I think we really have reached a point of consensus in Canada” on the need to boost rollouts, Liberal MP Will Amos said at the May 7 meeting. “So I think we really are at a moment where there a is violent agreement that it is necessary, and I think the question is really more of a how do we get there.”

No hexagons for UBF, Monsef confirms

Brief | May 11, 2020

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No hexagons for UBF, Monsef confirms

Brief | May 11, 2020

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