OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians are being asked to weigh in on the future of their 9-1-1 emergency services.
The CRTC issued the call for comments Thursday, the same day that it publicly released a report authored by former Commissioner Timothy Denton which examines 9-1-1 services in light of the telecommunications system’s evolution to next-generation networks based on Internet Protocol.
A Report on Matters Related to Emergency 9-1-1 focuses on the performance and adequacy of the technology currently employed for 9-1-1 services, such as that used to locate a caller who is using a cellphone; the issues related to the provision of 9-1-1 services on next-generation networks, including how systems should be designed; and policy considerations on 9-1-1 matters.
Noting that it has not made any determinations in respect of the content of the report, the CRTC is asking for comments on the content of the report, including its findings and recommendations; and identifying and prioritizing, with supporting rationale, those matters within its jurisdiction that the Commission should address with respect to 9-1-1 services and next-generation 9-1-1 services. Comments are due by November 25, 2013.
“911 services are vital to the health and safety of Canadians,” said CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “As we prepare to look at the future of 911 services, we want to hear from Canadians about what role the CRTC should play in ensuring that these services make the best use of new technologies.”
Telecommunications service providers, provincial/territorial governments, and municipal governments collaborate to provide 9-1-1 services in Canada. Under the Telecommunications Act, the CRTC regulates the telecommunications carriers, which provide the network infrastructure necessary to direct and connect 9-1-1 calls to public safety answering points. Emergency responders and public safety answering points fall within the jurisdiction of provincial/territorial and municipal governments
The Commission has mandated telecommunications service providers to provide their customers with 9-1-1 service wherever provincial/territorial and municipal governments have established public safety answering points. As a result, it is estimated that 98% of Canadians with telephone service have access to 9-1-1 services through traditional wireline, wireless, or voice over Internet Protocol service.
