Sustainability of Public Access Sites

• There needs to be ongoing federal support for CAP sites across Canada. The role for these sites has changed since the inception of the program. Initially intended as an initiative to foster Internet awareness, access and market development, its incorporation by community interests into a broader set of community activities and services has meant that CAP now plays two very important roles. A number of CAPs act as public access sites for those who cannot afford or do not want access from home. This public service role will continue in the future. Secondly, other sites have been incorporated into, and support, a range of literacy, training, and development initiatives by community organizations. These services are intended for individual and community development. Individual and community development requires sustained support over a period of years to be successful. CAP sustainability funding will need to continue for several more years to ensure that the federal and community goals pertaining to individual and community access and development are achieved.
• A strategic approach to future CAP funding by Industry Canada should include:
  
  
  • Required service standards (for example, terms of access, minimum services provided, etc.) pertaining to public access. These standards should preclude fees for basic Internet access and training, because these are the major barriers affecting low income Canadians.
  • A review of the geographical location of CAP sites to ensure that these are appropriately located to accommodate the demographic groups with the greatest need and that are most likely to be unconnected.
• As part of this review, questions pertaining to home telephone, cable television, computer and Internet access should be included in the national census conducted by Statistics Canada. Community demographic analysis from this research should be made available at no cost to community organizations to assist them in planning appropriate locations for CAP sites. Using this and other local information, applicants for Industry Canada CAP sustainability funding or support from other government departments could, as part of their applications, provide an analysis on how local strategies will help address digital divide issues in their community.