As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission regularly review its target broadband speeds to ensure they take into account technological developments and the overall usage trends of Canadians, and that it publish its findings in its annual report on the telecommunications sector.

Recommendation 2

That the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission require Internet service providers to make information available to consumers on the usual download and upload speeds they can expect during peak periods so they can make more informed purchasing decisions based on accurate and transparent information, thereby improving the industry’s competitiveness overall.

Recommendation 3

That the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission establish an affordability standard for telecommunications services across Canada after consulting with various stakeholders, taking into account an affordability standard for wholesale Internet rates ensuring equitable treatment of network owners and virtual operators in order to significantly reduce the cost of bandwidth among providers, thereby encouraging more competition and reducing the price of consumer packages, and that it issue its decision within a year.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada increase service costs by 50 cents for Canadians who are willing and able to afford the incurred cost in order to come to the aid of neighbors that can not afford high prices.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada create a benefit for large band services until the end of the pandemic for low-income Canadians, seniors or Canadians who have lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada change some of the parameters for the Connecting Families program to improve accessibility by, for example:

• Changing the eligibility criteria and better targeting families to ensure all low-income households have access to it;
• Requiring service providers to participate in the program and funding them directly; and
• Promoting programs more strategically so that more low-income families are aware of them.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada ensure that the interests of rural regions are given top consideration during spectrum allocation, which could include, but is not limited to:

• Establishing a mechanism to reallocate unused spectrum to other telecommunications service providers according to a predetermined timeframe; and
• Ensuring the full deployment of spectrum allocated to rural and remote regions by providing partial reimbursement for the amounts spent acquiring the licence.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada consider that money from spectrum auctions that goes into the consolidated revenue fund be reallocated in broadband.

Recommendation 9

That, following the 3500 MHz band spectrum auction planned for June 2021, the Government of Canada study the benefits and issues involving flexible-use licensing to determine whether this practice should be used or changed in future spectrum auctions, and that it report to the Committee within a year.

Recommendation 10

That the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission rapidly address existing barriers so that telecommunications service providers can access support structures more easily by establishing an independent inspection, prevention and enforcement mechanism with cost sharing among providers–users to upgrade the network so that it meets high efficiency and safety standards.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada collaborate with provincial and municipal governments to address existing barriers so that telecommunications service providers can access support structures more easily.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada put in place a variety of means to support improved connectivity in rural and remote areas. For example, it could:

• Provide financial support to help build infrastructure for carriers or service providers who are in areas where it is not economically beneficial for them to build it on their own in order to help reach the objective of providing an appropriate level of service;
• Ensure or promote competition in areas where there is only a small number of providers by allowing resale, allowing access to third parties to then provide services using the facilities of the incumbents.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada encourage independent and non-traditional telecommunications service providers and network operators to participate in its broadband funding programs by, for example,

• Simplifying the application process;
• Establishing criteria that prioritize local and regional providers;
• Setting aside a portion of available funds for them; and
• Capping the share of any single provider to a maximum of 50% of the government’s business. 41

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada issue a directive to encourage the CRTC to revise its process for implementing and appealing new rates so that incumbent telecommunications service providers stop using the appeals process as a delay tactic. For example, in cases where newly announced rates are appealed, the CRTC could:

• Apply an interim rate equal to a 50% difference between the old rates and the newly announced rates; and
• Respect a strict time limit to issue a decision. 42

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada issue a clear directive on competition to the CRTC to connect all Canadians quickly while maintaining a level playing field among telecommunications service providers, particularly between incumbent and independent providers, to ensure both the development of high quality networks and competition that will have a meaningful impact on the quality of service and price of consumer packages.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, develop a unified, integrated and collaborative national broadband strategy covering a variety of issues. These could include the allocation of funding for telecommunications services in rural and remote regions, spectrum management, access to support structures and competition in the telecommunications sector. The Committee further recommends that the federal government works in close collaboration with all levels of government to complete the national strategy within one year and fully implement it within the following 12 months.