Regional co-ops (or regional branches of a national co-op) could provide wireless internet. It’s not ideal but if a person is not willing to accept Rogers, Bell or Telus, it could be acceptable.
Totally. But this is very different from buying TekSavvy. TekSavvy serves the vast majority of their customers via ROBeLUS’es last mile infrastructure. They can’t do that via regional wireless and so whoever buys them will have to keep paying ROBeLUS. If they can’t break even at this point, a new owner such as a co-op will have the same problem. The only owner that won’t is ROBeLUS. The only solution to this conundrum is federal intervention via CRTC, Industry Canada or the government itself. My guess we’ll hear from Jagmeet first.
Oh god no, I don’t think the suggestion is we should form a co-op that buys TekSavvy. I can think of a lot of reasons that’s impractical. But I think there is realistically a space for Internet co-ops to be viable for some parts of Canada, if not universally.
Okay, who’s in to form a co-op and buy them?
You have my sword. I don’t have a lot more than that to offer though. And the sword is just a metaphor.
Canada needs co-ops and Canada needs public access to communication networks. Is there a lawyer in the thread?
Even if we did that, it will still die without a drastic change in costs from the CRTC.
Regional co-ops (or regional branches of a national co-op) could provide wireless internet. It’s not ideal but if a person is not willing to accept Rogers, Bell or Telus, it could be acceptable.
Totally. But this is very different from buying TekSavvy. TekSavvy serves the vast majority of their customers via ROBeLUS’es last mile infrastructure. They can’t do that via regional wireless and so whoever buys them will have to keep paying ROBeLUS. If they can’t break even at this point, a new owner such as a co-op will have the same problem. The only owner that won’t is ROBeLUS. The only solution to this conundrum is federal intervention via CRTC, Industry Canada or the government itself. My guess we’ll hear from Jagmeet first.
dang, nvm. *puts sword away*
Oh god no, I don’t think the suggestion is we should form a co-op that buys TekSavvy. I can think of a lot of reasons that’s impractical. But I think there is realistically a space for Internet co-ops to be viable for some parts of Canada, if not universally.
Rogere, Bell and Telus