ITS Canada trying to harmonize 511 traffic/weather service with U.S.

A consortium of public sector environment and transportation agencies led by Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada (ITS Canada) has asked the CRTC for permission to use the 511 three-digit access code to provide traffic and weather information, similar to what has been proposed for the N11 code in the United States. On June 9, the commission issued PN 2005-5 soliciting comment on the application, which is a modification of an earlier filing with the CRTC that saw Environment Canada propose a cost-recovery system for the 511 service. That has now been amended to reflect that the service would be offered without charge. The service, according to the public notice would provide, "real-time information on severe weather conditions, traffic congestion, the status of roadway closures and conditions, as well as trip and schedule information." Partners in the consortium to provide the info include Environment Canada, Transport Canada, ITS Canada, provincial governments and others. According to the PN, it would build on Environment Canada’s efforts to improve its own national service. It notes that Environment Canada currently receives over 35 million calls a year. Use of the 511 number, according to the application, would help cut through the patchwork of services currently being provided by a number of organizations using various local and toll-free numbers, as opposed to a single number allocated to the purpose that "would be universally known, visible and recognized, and easily remembered, allowing travelers to make better choices, including choice of time, choice of route and mode of transportation." The proposed use, if the consortium is successful, could make 511 a unique three-digit access code on the dial, where those codes are ordinarily used for carrier communications or for more traditional public services such as 911 access to emergency agencies, and 311 for public agencies such as for financial assistance or legal aid. There are currently dozens of companies offering weather and traffic, as well as other information services, to cell phone users on a for-pay basis. The Weather Network, for instance, offers a text message weather forecast service, and some local news broadcasters are beginning to offer the same for traffic conditions. The application will likely pique the interest of those kinds of companies eager to either get into the game – or block out a free competitor. The commission has a set of rules to govern the competitive neutrality of the N11 system, and observers will likely watch the 2005-5 process to see whether the CRTC’s Decision 2001-475 rules provide for some private sector, profit-motivated involvement. Asked whether the consortium might be open to private sector involvement in the proposed 511 service, ITS Canada’s Paul Frigon replies: "That’s an excellent question, and I think it’s one that everybody that’s currently involved with the consortium is going to be asking. To be honest, things haven’t progressed that far. This whole concept of how the private sector gets involved is something that is going to work itself through as things get deployed in Canada. First of all, it has to be awarded. Assuming it is, it really becomes a question of how things get deployed…The use of the N11 number is a public service and it pretty well has to be at no cost, or just the cost of a phone call, to the user." Several carriers, who are currently using the 511 number to provide toll-free roaming, and the Canadian Association of the Deaf, which has 511 in reserve for Message Relay Service, have all indicated that they don’t intend to fight the reclamation of the access code by the commission. ITS Canada is looking south as it proposes the Canadian service. Information on its web site indicates that the service is being developed to be in harmony with similar U.S. efforts. The private sector will likely be heavily involved in an American 511 system. The web site notes that ITS Canada’s U.S. counterpart is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, car manufacturers and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on vehicles that will be able to communicate with roadside infrastructure using dedicated short range communications 5.9 GHz technology. 511 service is currently accessible to around 25% of the American population, with another 25% expected by the end of this year.

ITS Canada trying to harmonize 511 traffic/weather service with U.S.

News | 06/23/2005 4:00 am EDT

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