Digital Divides and the 'First Mile': Framing First Nations Broadband Development in Canada

Abstract

Across Canada, rural and remote First Nations face a significant 'digital divide'. As self-determining autonomous nations in Canada, these communities are building broadband systems to deliver public services to their members and residents. To address this challenge, First Nations are working towards a variety of innovative, locally driven broadband development initiatives. This paper contributes a theoretical discussion that frames our understanding of these initiatives by drawing on the paradigm of the 'First Mile' (Paisley & Richardson, 1998). We argue that broadband development policy in Canada must be re-framed to address the specific needs of First Nations. The First Mile position foregrounds community-based involvement, control, and ownership: a consideration we suggest has particular resonance for First Nations. This is because it holds potential to move beyond the historical context of paternalistic, colonial-derived development policies, in the context of broadband systems development. We argue First Nations broadband projects offer on-the-ground examples of a First Mile approach, and call for more research in this area.

Engaging Remote Marginalized Communities using Appropriate Online Research Methods

“…Putting the communities first when digital networks and resources are planned and financed means the resources are made available and managed by the communities. OCAP applied to digital networks is also called the 'First Mile' approach, a counterstrategy to the traditional Last Mile colonial solution that government programs use to fund private telecommunications corporations to develop and deliver the digital services in marginalized communities (McMahon et al, 2011). By using the First Mile approach, these communities at the end of the road are able to identify, develop and deliver a digital strategy addressing their needs, ensuring they receive the services they require (McMahon et al, 2014).…”

The Dreams Plan: A Blupoint Strategy for e‐Education Provision in South Africa

“…This approach considers the needs of communities to be more important than the needs of the private sector (e.g. Lowenberg 2014;McMahon et al 2011). The Last Mile emphasises a commercial perspective (Strover 2000).…”

“…The Last Mile emphasises a commercial perspective (Strover 2000). This approach considers questions of commerce to be more important questions of outreach or serving communities (McMahon et al 2011;Paisley & Richardson 1998;Philpot et al 2014).…”

Les technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) et la promotion de la santé sexuelle chez les jeunes autochtones du Québec

“…Cette proportion peut atteindre 90 % pour l'ordinateur, 77 % en ce qui concerne le lecteur de CD-ROM, 89 % pour ce qui est de l'Internet et 55 % dans le cas du téléphone cellulaire. Ces constats semblent aller à l'encontre de la logique du « fossé numérique » se traduisant par une moindre accessibilité aux équipements technologiques chez les PN (McMahon et al 2011). Toutefois, ces résultats semblent cohérents si on les relit à la lumière des conclusions des auteurs ayant élaboré sur le « fossé numérique » au Canada (entre autres, George 2004et McMahon et al 2011.…”

“…Ces constats semblent aller à l'encontre de la logique du « fossé numérique » se traduisant par une moindre accessibilité aux équipements technologiques chez les PN (McMahon et al 2011). Toutefois, ces résultats semblent cohérents si on les relit à la lumière des conclusions des auteurs ayant élaboré sur le « fossé numérique » au Canada (entre autres, George 2004et McMahon et al 2011. Ces auteurs soulignent, en ce qui concerne Internet par exemple, que les personnes qui l'utilisent le plus au Canada sont plus jeunes, habitent les centres urbains et sont plus instruites (George 2004).…”