CRTC sets rules for Phase II E911 implementation

Wireless carriers have one year to implement the technologies necessary to offer enhanced 911 location capabilities and will have to pay their own way, the CRTC ruled today. New entrant wireless carriers will also have to offer this new level of enhanced 911 services when they launch. Telecom Decision 2009-40 notes that while the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association had pushed for public money to rollout the technology upgrades, wireless operators will be on the hook for their own costs. Wireless carriers will be required to offer Phase II E911 services by February 1, 2010 in regions where wireline E911 is available. Reports surfaced late last year that the wireless companies wanted taxpayer money for the network upgrades. The articles also suggested that the technology is already available and could be rolled out across the country for about $50 million. In an interview with Report on Wireless earlier this month, Rogers Communications Inc. said it was always willing to pay its own freight. "I don't know where this story came from because we've never asked anyone to pay for Phase II E911," Ken Engelhart, Rogers' senior VP of regulatory affairs told RoW at the time. During the CRTC's technical committee meetings - the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) - the CWTA argued that forcing the wireless carriers to pay for their own network upgrades might slow deployment of the enhanced wireless location technology. The Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) countered that they have less money than wireless carriers, but plan to find the money to upgrade their systems to handle the new location data supplied by the operators. A requirement to cover the carriers' would limit the deployment of wireless Phase II E911 service to communities with a substantial property tax base, they added. The CRTC noted that wireless operators are already collecting fees for the current E911 service, which are presumably covering the cost of operating the service. In addition, the commission noted that carriers are implementing location technologies for revenue-generating services. "The same technology platforms and X,Y coordinate data can be used to provide both commercial location determination services and the wireless Phase II E9-1-1 information required by PSAPs," reads the decision. First step in truly enhanced wireless 911 The commission also notes in its decision that February 1, 2010 will only mark the availability of the first stage in Phase II E911 services where a PSAP can identify the location of the caller through an X, Y coordinate generated either by GPS or network triangulation. A second stage to be implemented in the future will be able to track the mobile phone caller if he/she is moving and locate 911 calls of roamers. CISC's emergency services working group will continue to monitor technology developments in this area and has been tasked to report back to the CRTC within six months on potential solutions. After reviewing the report, the commission will set implementation requirements and timeframes. With respect to new entrants, they will be treated as equals with their existing wireless carrier brethren. "The commission considers that it would be in the public interest for these new entrants to deploy wireless Phase II Stage 1 E911 service with no greater delays than are being afforded the existing WSPs," reads the decision. "When a new WSP enters the market, at the time of service launch it must support wireless Phase II Stage 1 E911 service where it has been implemented."

CRTC sets rules for Phase II E911 implementation

News | 02/02/2009 8:30 pm EST

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