Liberal MP introduces bill to boost rural and highway cellular connectivity
‘Connecting rural areas is a matter of public safety, economic development and fairness, quite simply,’ says Liberal MP Marianne Dandurand.
Liberal MP Marianne Dandurand, chair of the party’s Rural Caucus, wants to improve cellular connectivity in rural areas and on numbered roads. She introduced Bill C-268, An Act respecting the Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada, with three objectives: make coverage data more reliable, update the spectrum framework, and prioritize rural areas and numbered roads in developing cellphone service.
“For me, connecting rural areas is a matter of public safety, economic development and fairness, quite simply. Contrary to what some official maps might say, many areas in Canada still need to be connected,” said Dandurand, who represents the Quebec riding of Compton-Stanstead. “Cellular connectivity is not a luxury. ….People outside major urban centres deserve reliable service too. This bill will improve our tools to help us better understand the gaps and promote fairer network development across Canada. I sincerely hope that all parties will work together to move this file forward, as it is essential for our rural communities.”
