The availability of broadband access through a public site as a complement to home access may become an important public service in the near future. Home Internet users are finding it difficult to do some things at home due to slow connectivity (12% always, 51% some of the time). This raises questions as to what degree ‘broadband’ may become an issue for access and service delivery beyond the current debate involving rural and remote areas. Currently, slightly more than half of those with home access (56 per cent) use a regular telephone line, while the remainder (46 per cent) use some form of broadband.¹⁰

The role for government funded access sites has changed since these sites were introduced starting about five years ago. Then few Canadians new about the Internet and fewer still were online. Since then more than half of Canadian households have access from home. There is also a broad-based awareness of the Internet. Pursuing these objectives is now less important for government. However, a number of other developments suggest that a changed role based on social policy has emerged.

There is a continuing demand and need for public access sites for access and training in both rural and urban locations in Canada for those who do not have, or cannot afford, home access. Moreover, how the sites have been incorporated into community relations and used by different groups has also evolved the role and importance of public access support. As noted in previous research (Rethinking the Dual Digital Divide, 2001), social organizations who operate access sites, and community institutions that provide a range of economic and social development services have come to use and rely on publicly funded access sites and local networks as core, supporting resources for these activities. As well, the policy’s of the federal and provincial governments to put more content and services online, presumes and relies upon, the existence of public access sites and networked community organizations. In light of the trends discussed above, the sophistication and increasing technical complexity of the broad range of government public services will require a rethinking of the role of public access sites and the support for community-based organizations that operate these, as well as other networked community information and development resources.

Many of the original Information Highway programs aimed at encouraging and facilitating awareness and use of the Internet were designed as short term pilot projects (e.g., Community Access Program, Community Learning Networks Initiative). The Community Learning Network initiative has supported the development of community networks across Canada, with dozens already funded and many more waiting in the wings. The Community Access Program (CAP) has also been successful in meeting its objectives. By 2001, 8,800 sites were in operation. The level of usage of the sites has remained steady of the past four years. The CAP sites continue to meet a wide range of needs for the public including: technical training; Internet and email access; word processing; literacy training; and online courses, among others. The federal governmenthas remained committed to CAP by providing two new years of funding to extend the program. However, the ongoing demand, and need for, these sites by the public, will require the government to further assess its role and level of support for sustainability. Many of the sites will not likely continue operations without some form of federal assistance.

¹⁰ EKOS Research Associates Inc., 2001, Rethinking the Information Highway.