Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Common menu bar links

Home > Media > Speeches

Speech


by Robert Morin

Secretary General
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

 

to the Global Forum 2010
“No One Left Behind: Building an Inclusive Digital Society”

Washington, D.C.

November 9, 2010

(Check against delivery)

Thank you for your kind introduction. This is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to speak at a Global Forum conference in Washington.

I’m glad to be here today as we discuss strategies and policies that will shape our digital future. As you heard yesterday, many countries have set ambitious goals to connect their citizens through extensive broadband networks. In the United States, for example, the Federal Communications Commission has developed a National Broadband Plan that calls for all homes and businesses to have affordable access to download speeds of at least 4 megabits per second by the end of the decade.   

The global village is going digital in a hurry.

All this talk of investments in broadband networks is encouraging. But in doing so, we are only talking about one aspect of the next generation of information and communication technologies—the backbone infrastructure. For citizens to fully participate in the global village, to reap its many benefits, they must be able to use the products and services that connect to the networks. Just as importantly, they must be able to make the most of the digital tools and content at their fingertips.

Digital literacy and digital skills are critical pieces of the larger picture. But on a more basic level, the way communications services and products are designed is just as important.

Let me give you an example. Many of you probably start your morning the same way I do—by checking your smartphone. You might read an e-mail as you head out the door, make a quick phone call or watch a news video.

Now imagine you had a visual or hearing impairment. Would you have access to services and devices that are adapted to your special needs?

Changing demographics, changing needs

Roughly one in seven Canadians is presently over the age of 65. This proportion of the population is set to grow as baby boomers approach retirement. Some will devote their time to volunteer activities, some will travel the world, and others will embark on new careers.

A few years ago, I left the public service for a time to start a consulting business. So I speak from experience when I say that their lifestyle and communications needs will change. Sometimes you need more technology in your post-retirement life than you did before.

At the same time, more than 4 million Canadians, or 14% of the population, have some form of a disability. These numbers will likely rise as our population ages over the next 10 to 15 years.  It’s also important to remember that anyone can find themselves living with a disability, from seniors to lawyers to business owners to students and youth.

These demographic trends are not unique to Canada. Most developed countries are noticing a comparable trend.

We live in a world where technology is evolving at such a fast rate that it’s sometimes hard to keep up. Who would have thought 10 years ago that we would be able to access the Internet from almost anywhere on our cellphones, laptops, netbooks and other mobile devices? People of all ages and backgrounds are interacting with each other on social networks.

And yet a significant proportion of the population may face obstacles in accessing and participating in all of its economic, social and cultural dimensions.

Making communications more accessible

Over the years, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has issued a number of decisions to facilitate access to communications services. Given that regulation evolved over time, we decided to review the measures we had put in place. And because the CRTC is a converged regulator, we looked at telecommunications and broadcasting services at the same time.

As part of our proceeding, we held a public hearing. We heard presentations from major telecommunications and broadcasting companies, organizations such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and concerned citizens.

In June 2009, we announced several new measures to enhance the accessibility of communications services for people with disabilities.

For instance, we required that wireless service providers offer at least one type of cellphone to serve the needs of people with disabilities. Those who are blind or have mobility impairments can choose from cellphones that have larger buttons and screens or voice-activated functions.

By the end of the year, we will have rolled out a national Internet Protocol relay service. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, an operator will convert text messages into voice calls, and vice versa, using any Internet-enabled device.

We also asked the telecommunications industry to conduct market trials for video relay services. These services allow a person with a disability to place a call using a video telephone. The conversation is then relayed in real-time by a sign-language interpreter. Trials are also underway to see if it’s possible to communicate with 911 operators by sending a text message.

We will be monitoring the results of the trials with interest. Our hope is that we can implement certain solutions without burdening the industry or consumers with unreasonable costs.

On the broadcasting front, we are working with broadcasters to improve the quality of closed captioning. We also require most broadcasters to offer at least four hours of described-video programming each week. Described video is added during pauses in dialogue to provide information on visual details, such as the settings or the actors’ costumes and body language.

Role of the private sector

While governments can play a leading role, they obviously cannot do it alone. The private sector must also carry part of the load, for instance by developing products and services tailored to every segment of the population.

In their rush to bring communications services and devices to the market, companies sometimes overlook the fact that they may not be addressing all potential segments of a growing market. These situations could be capitalized upon by hiring engineers and other employees with disabilities and involving them early on in the design and testing stages. Another good practice would be to consult regularly with disability groups.

When you consider that many seniors have children and grandchildren who will purchase products and services for them, it’s evident that there are tremendous opportunities to serve this market. This is not only a question of market potential, but also of social responsibility.

Conclusion

The more technologically dependent we become, the higher the risk of isolation or social exclusion. The public and private sectors must work in a coordinated fashion to create an inclusive digital society for all. Given the opportunities before us, the investments we make today will benefit our countries for generations to come.

Thank you.


- 30 -

 

Follow us on Twitter @crtceng

Media Relations:
   MediaRelations, Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245

General Inquiries:
   Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218
   Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
   TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)
   Ask a question or make a complaint

This document is available in alternative format upon request.

Date Modified: 2010-11-09

Top of Page
Important Notices