“Technology is power in modern societies, a greater power in many domains than the political system itself. The masters of technical systems, corporate and military leaders, physicians and engineers, have far more control over patterns of urban growth, the design of dwellings and transportation systems, the selection of innovations, our experience as employees, patients and consumers, than all the electoral institutions of our society put together.” - David Barney, Communication Technology, 2005, p. 24
In Canada, the digital divide is most seen between “urban and rural communities, indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians, high- and low-income families, Francophones and Anglophones, and the young and old.” (Howard, Busch, & Sheets, 2010, p. 112) This section will focus on the factors that cause this divide, specifically geographic location and socioeconomic status.
In remote areas, the digital divide is most commonly seen because of a lack of access to cable lines and internet service providers. In many cases this is simply because of how remote a location is, though in some situations, geographic features such as mountains, valleys, and difficult terrain also have an impact (such as in Port Renfrew, which has no cell service despite being close to a major city). The cost of developing this infrastructure, particularly in the far north and remote indigenous communities is also a major factor in this aspect of Canada's digital divide (Howard et al., 2010). This cost is often passed on to internet users, making the internet very expensive for anyone living in these rural areas. To help combat this problem, the federal government introduced the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development program in 2002, which was a five year program intended to bring internet access to remote areas. Private companies have also launched similar programs, such as Telus and their plan to build a fiber optic network for the Tofino-Ucluelet area. Tofino mayor Josie Osbourne described the new infrastructure as “fundamental to a community's economy and liveability” (Kloster, 2016), highlighting the impact that the digital divide can have on remote areas and the people who live there.
In remote areas, the digital divide is most commonly seen because of a lack of access to cable lines and internet service providers. In many cases this is simply because of how remote a location is, though in some situations, geographic features such as mountains, valleys, and difficult terrain also have an impact (such as in Port Renfrew, which has no cell service despite being close to a major city). The cost of developing this infrastructure, particularly in the far north and remote indigenous communities is also a major factor in this aspect of Canada's digital divide (Howard et al., 2010). This cost is often passed on to internet users, making the internet very expensive for anyone living in these rural areas. To help combat this problem, the federal government introduced the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development program in 2002, which was a five year program intended to bring internet access to remote areas. Private companies have also launched similar programs, such as Telus and their plan to build a fiber optic network for the Tofino-Ucluelet area. Tofino mayor Josie Osbourne described the new infrastructure as “fundamental to a community's economy and liveability” (Kloster, 2016), highlighting the impact that the digital divide can have on remote areas and the people who live there.
Source: Canadian Broadcast Corporation, 2015
Socioeconomic status is another key factor in Canada's digital divide. In some cases, this overlaps with access issues in remote places; the costs of running internet in remote communities is often passed onto residents. But there are other factors than simply location at work. The average Canadian pays 203 dollars a month for internet services, according to the CRTC (CRTC, 2015, para 9). Paying such high costs, as well as the cost of obtaining a computer, tablet, or phone to use the internet on, is simply not an option for some Canadians. In most cases, Canadians who have a computer in their homes are more likely to develop digital literacy skills “necessary to productively use the Internet” (Howard et al., p. 112). This can put those at a lower economic level at a disadvantage in the workplace, furthering the economic gap between them and those with better internet access.