Thank you, Madam Chair.
Witnesses, thank you to both of you for your time and your presentations. You both touched on broadband access today. My questions will be in regard to that.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology noted in its April 2018 report on broadband connectivity in rural Canada that broadband service is significantly less available in rural areas than in urban areas. The committee suggested that this digital divide prevents Canadians in rural and remote areas from participating in the digital economy and exacerbates the challenges those areas already face.
This question is for both of you. How does the digital divide exclude individuals living in rural areas from the digital economy?