GATINEAU – With some 80% of Canadians now owning a mobile device, the CRTC is asking for feedback on the participation of wireless service providers in Canada’s National Public Alerting System.
The Commission said Tuesday that its consultation builds on efforts to ensure Canadians are notified in a timely manner of emergency situations, as well as to ensure that the telecommunications system safeguards them. Comments are due by May 30, 2016.
Unlike 911 services which allow Canadians to contact emergency services, wireless public alerting would allow emergency management officials to “push” messages to Canadians through their cellular services. Issued by emergency management officials such as fire marshals, police officers and public health personnel, emergency alerts could be issued for tornadoes, forest fires, floods and water contamination, for example.
Wireless public alerting has already been successfully implemented in the United States using cell broadcasting technology, allowing emergency alerts to be automatically sent to all mobile devices within an affected cellular tower coverage area. The alerts are designed to get attention with a vibration and unique sound, including the type and time of the alert, as well as any action that should be taken. Australia uses location-based Short Message Service (LB-SMS) technology.
Canada’s new emergency alert system, known as Alert Ready, officially launched last March, allowing the majority of Canadians to receive emergency alert messages through their radio and television services. Campus, community-based and Aboriginal broadcasters have until March 31, 2016 to rollout the system.
“We are pleased that the majority of Canadians are now receiving emergency alert messages due to the participation of the broadcasting industry in the National Public Alerting System”, said CRTC chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “In the future, the participation of the wireless industry could make the alerting system even more effective and help save lives.”
