Discussion · Private Members' Business
Marianne Dandurand Liberal
“Some mobile spectrum is not being used. Companies are following their government contracts, but those deals leave rural areas without service. We need future contracts to make sure rural areas get reliable service too.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is true that there is spectrum that is not being used. The problem is that companies are honouring the agreements they have signed with the government. The way the contracts were drawn up requires, for example, connecting 50% of the population across a very large area within a relatively short period of time. As a result, there are places that are not connected. I would say that the agreements that were signed have, for the most part, been honoured. Clearly, that is not where the solution lies. The aim is to ensure that future contracts take into account the reality that connection is much more unreliable in rural areas than it is in urban centres.”
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Mr. Speaker, it is true that there is spectrum that is not being used. The problem is that companies are honouring the agreements they have signed with the government. The way the contracts were drawn up requires, for example, connecting 50% of the population across a very large area within a relatively short period of time. As a result, there are places that are not connected. I would say that the agreements that were signed have, for the most part, been honoured. Clearly, that is not where the solution lies. The aim is to ensure that future contracts take into account the reality that connection is much more unreliable in rural areas than it is in urban centres.