APAS report gives 43 recommendations to improve rural internet connectivity

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is out with its final report to address spotty or absent internet in rural internet and cell connectivity.

The province’s largest farm organization released its findings after six months of research into the causes of poor rural internet and cell service.

The rural connectivity task force is recommending 43 items to help strengthen connectivity in Saskatchewan.

“We’ve spent months meeting industry experts and researching the issue of rural connectivity,” task force chair Jeremy Welter said in a news release.

“That work has resulted in 43 recommendations that will help improve rural internet and cell service in Saskatchewan.”

Of the 43 recommendations, the task force focused on seven areas where the province can improve.

That includes sharing access to infrastructure and creating fair partnerships for providers, simplifying the federal regulatory structure, keeping small providers relevant, optimizing available government funding, and leveraging provincial Crown corporations to ensure access can be provided broadly.

“We do have a huge advantage when it comes to the rest of the country. We’re the only place in Canada that still has Crown corporations in our telecom,” Welter said in an interview with Gormley on Friday.

With plenty of areas with small populations of 20 or fewer people, Welter said smaller companies, SaskTel and larger telecoms can work together.

“Let’s look at how we can create a partnership to get these people service,” he said.