OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadian telephone and mobile wireless companies must update their networks in order to provide next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services by 2020, the CRTC said Thursday.
According to the new regulatory framework for NG9-1-1 emergency services, the incumbent telephone companies will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the NG9-1-1 networks, with CRTC oversight. The networks must be ready to provide NG9-1-1 voice services by June 30, 2020 and NG9-1-1 text messaging services by December 31, 2020. These services will be made available to Canadians as their local 9-1-1 call centres are in a position to offer them.
NG 9-1-1 is a term used to describe more technologically advanced 9-1-1 services, such as the ability to send text messages, photos and videos to 9-1-1 operators, as well as dialing. While Text with 9-1-1 is already widely available to Canadians who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, it is not yet available to the general public. NG9-1-1 services could allow Canadians to stream video from an emergency incident, send photos of accident damage or a fleeing suspect, and send personal medical information in advance to aid emergency responders, the CRTC said.
Noting the complex coordination required to provide 9-1-1 services, the Commission said that it will collaborate with the telephone companies to prepare the networks so that they are capable of carrying NG9-1-1 traffic to the emergency call centres. The next step will be for provincial, territorial and municipal governments to work with their emergency call centres to get their operations ready for NG9-1-1 services.
“The safety of Canadians is largely dependent on timely and efficient access to emergency services”, said CRTC Chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “As new capabilities become available, we must ensure that Canada’s emergency system adapts. Many stakeholders need to combine their efforts to provide Canadians with an innovative and effective NG9-1-1 system.”
During the transition to NG9-1-1, the incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) must support existing 9-1-1 voice services over the existing 9-1-1 networks in parallel with the new NG9-1-1 networks, continues TRP 2017-182. As well, ILECs are to decommission their current 9-1-1 network components that will not form part of their NG9-1-1 networks by June 30, 2023. The existing 9-1-1 tariff rate regime for funding the current 9-1-1 networks will remain in place during the transition, along with new incremental tariffed rates that will be established for NG9-1-1. These rates will be in effect until current 9-1-1 networks are decommissioned, at which time final NG9-1-1 network access tariff rates will be established.
The CRTC also recommended that Public Safety Canada take a leadership role in establishing a national coordination body, including emergency call centres and emergency responders, to assist with the transition to NG9-1-1.
