When people talk about the future of broadband, the conversation usually revolves around new technologies, government funding, or the next big infrastructure project. Those are important discussions, but they often overlook the people who built broadband in the first place.
At CANWISP, we had the opportunity to sit down with Neil Smellie, Executive Director at CANWISP, to talk about where the industry has been, where it's headed, and why regional providers continue to play such an important role in connecting communities across Canada. It was a conversation that reminded me how much of this industry has always been built by people who saw a need and decided to solve it themselves.
For many of us, that story sounds familiar.
Long before broadband became a national priority, local operators were already building networks where no one else would.
Neil shared how his own journey started in the mid-1990s because his business simply needed reliable connectivity. The infrastructure wasn't there, so they built it. That story has been repeated across countless rural communities, where local entrepreneurs invested their own time, money, and energy because the larger providers weren't interested in serving those areas.
My own experience wasn't much different. Like many independent operators, we weren't trying to compete with the largest telecommunications companies. We were trying to solve a problem for our neighbors.
That spirit still defines many regional ISPs today.
One of the more important points Neil raised is that regional providers don't always receive the recognition they deserve.
These companies built networks long before rural broadband became a national conversation. They invested in communities that larger carriers overlooked. Yet when funding programs or broadband maps are discussed, those same providers are sometimes treated as though they weren't already there.
That's a frustrating reality for operators who have spent decades serving their communities.
Neil described situations where government-funded overbuilds have targeted areas already served by local providers, despite years of private investment. For many smaller operators, that's difficult to understand, especially when those businesses have built sustainable networks without relying on public funding.
This is where organizations like CANWISP make a real difference.
An individual ISP can only have so much influence. Collectively, however, those operators have a much stronger voice when working with regulators, government agencies, and funding organizations.
I've watched CANWISP grow over the years from an organization focused primarily on technical collaboration into one that also advocates for the interests of independent providers. That work doesn't happen overnight. It requires consistent relationship building, ongoing conversations, and operators who are willing to share their experiences so policymakers understand the realities of serving rural markets.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but the industry is stronger when those voices are represented.
One question that stood out during our conversation was simple but significant.
What happens when there are fewer unserved areas left to build?
For years, growth meant expanding into communities that lacked broadband access. As government initiatives continue pushing toward universal connectivity, providers will need to think differently about growth.
That could mean expanding into neighboring markets. It could mean acquisitions. It could mean adding managed services like security, voice, or television. It may also mean continuing to improve existing networks instead of focusing solely on expansion.
Every generation of ISP operators has faced a different challenge, and this one will be no exception.
Throughout the history of the broadband industry, every new technology has been described as the one that would replace independent providers.
DSL was supposed to end wireless ISPs.
Satellite was supposed to end wireless ISPs.
Now low Earth orbit satellite services are generating similar conversations.
Neil offered a practical perspective. Every technology has its place. Some are excellent solutions for extremely remote locations. Others are better suited for densely populated areas. Rather than replacing regional providers, each new technology simply becomes another tool available to connect customers where it makes the most sense.
I've always believed that independent operators succeed because they adapt faster. They know their communities, they make decisions quickly, and they continue finding new ways to serve customers regardless of what the latest technology headlines might suggest.
People often ask whether conferences are still worth attending.
After conversations like this one, my answer remains yes.
The presentations are valuable, but some of the most meaningful discussions happen outside the session rooms. Operators share challenges, compare solutions, and help one another navigate issues they've already solved.
That willingness to collaborate has always been one of the greatest strengths of the independent broadband community.
No ISP has all the answers. Together, though, the industry has decades of experience that can help the next operator facing the same challenge.
That's something worth preserving.
Catch the full conversation with Neil Smellie, Executive Director of CANWISP, on the Bandwidth podcast. We discuss the history of regional ISPs, broadband funding, industry advocacy, and what the next chapter looks like for independent operators.
Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Bandwidth Podcast YouTube Channel.
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