National Emergency Number Association
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ONTARIO 9-1-1 ADVISORY BOARD
December 1997
UPDATE ON UNBUNDLING IN ONTARIO
On January 1st 1998 the first of the new telephone companies will belaunching their local telephone service in Toronto. This will only be thebeginning!
As we enter into the 21st century all large cities and populated urbanareas throughout Ontario can expect to have these new telephone companies offertheir version of local telephone service.
The Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board has been busy throughout 1997 protectingthe interests of all 9-1-1 municipalities and answering centres. They have triedto insure the level of 9-1-1 service for Ontario municipalities was not degradedor that any additional costs would be incurred. They believe they haveaccomplished these goals.
The following are some of the accomplishments of the Ontario 9-1-1Advisory Board:
* As a result of appeals to the Canadian-Radio Television Commission(CRTC) an instruction to all telephone re-sellers that they must provide anaddress and telephone number to the 9-1-1 answering centre. This has beenimplemented in Ontario and Centrex telephone subscribers’ address and telephonenumber is now being displayed to 9-1-1 answering centres.
* An understanding from the new telephone companies that we would notallow them to terminate their 9-1-1 calls directly to the PSAP without goingthrough the Public Emergency Reporting System (PERS). This would insure that9-1-1 PSAP’s did not have to add additional equipment and telephones for thetermination of these 9-1-1 telephone calls.
* A written document pertaining to all the rules of interconnecting 9-1-1to the PERS that also involved the termination of the 9-1-1 call to the PSAP. This document establishes the rules of what we can expect to occur when thepublic dials 9-1-1 from their new telephone service provider and that it willcontinue to provide all the 9-1-1 features and information that we have today.
* An understanding from the new telephone service providers that Ontariomunicipalities would not be agreeable to signing multiple 9-1-1 agreements witheach and every new telephone company. A draft agreement has been written whichwill allow new telephone companies to become an addendum to the master agreementwithout having to enter into a new separate contract with that municipality. Asthis agreement is being drafted and discussed an interim tariff is to be issuedby the CRTC to allow new telephone companies January 1st 1998.
* The formation of a wireless committee chaired jointly by arepresentative from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA)and a representative from PSAP’s. The wireless committee has held two majormeetings in Toronto in 1997 and a lot has been accomplished in this short periodof time. It would appear there will be a resolution to having the telephonenumber of the wireless 9-1-1 caller displayed at the PSAP within the next year. Technical alternatives, discussions, and impact of costs for both the wirelessindustry and the PSAP’s are continuing and a possible proposed solution might beforthcoming in 1998 for the display of the location (X-Y coordinates) of thewireless caller. This will have a definite cost impact on PSAP’s, as newcomputer equipment will be required.
* The Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board is looking at alternative means offunding 9-1-1 PSAP’s through telephone subscriber fees – more information tofollow in the new year.
The work of the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board is far from finished. We hopethat our contributions will insure that 9-1-1 in our Province will continue toimprove and that one-day we will truly have a Provincial 9-1-1 system. Thesafety of our community and the quality of life we have come to expect, must beprotected If you should have any additional questions on any of the aboveplease contact Derek Denson
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