Last month, in Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2018-105, the CRTC noted, “effective access to emergency services in Canada is critical to the health and safety of Canadians, and is an important part of ensuring that Canadians have access to a world-class communication system.”

Let’s pause for a brief history of emergency services and the communications industry.

Winnipeg was the first city in North America to have a central emergency access phone number. Back in 1959, Winnipeg used 9‑9‑9 for emergency access, a dialing code created in the UK in 1937 and still used by many countries. It turned out that 9‑1‑1 was chosen for North American implementation in the mid-1960’s and most areas of Canada saw emergency access service rolled out over the next 30 years.

Emergency services have slowly evolved as mobile networks began to generate a larger proportion of emergency calls. Enhanced 9‑1‑1 enabled mobile service providers to relay location information to the emergency services Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Four years ago, the CRTC announced the initial launch of text messaging for 9‑1‑1 services for hearing or speech impaired persons. At the time, I wrote: “Regrettably, I am not convinced this is a service that truly meets the needs of the community it is intended to serve.” The user interface struck me as too complicated. I closed off that post with a question: “Should people need a training course and have to invest in new mobile handsets in order to make emergency calls?”

That blog post attracted more comments than any other in 2014, with a debate about my harsh reaction.

Since then, there have been two parallel development paths for emergency services:

• Emergency alerting, where notifications are sent from the network to users; and,
• Next Generation 9‑1‑1, the evolution of how users can reach emergency services.

In 2014, the CRTC required AM and FM radio stations and over-the-air TV stations to participate in a National Public Alerting System (NPAS). Earlier this month, all wireless service providers were required to participate in the NPAS and distribute emergency alerts on their LTE networks.

Now, telecommunications service providers are modernizing 9‑1‑1.

The advanced wireless networks operating in Canada include support of IP-based voice services, such as voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) and voice over LTE (VoLTE). Currently, calls using these technologies must convert 9‑1‑1 calls to legacy public switched telephone networks, losing multimedia capabilities that might otherwise be activated during the course of a communications session.

Moreover, legacy 9‑1‑1 networks can’t communicate with internet of things (IoT) devices, such as car airbag sensors. These legacy 9‑1‑1 systems can’t receive location information from VoWifi or nomadic VoIP calls (such as Skype), using an Internet Access Point, even if the device can use GPS to determine its location, or if the address of the Internet Access Point is known with certainty.

In Canada, the CRTC has mandated the implementation of next-generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) networks based on the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) i3 architecture standard. This will enable Canadians to access new, enhanced, and innovative 9‑1‑1 services with IP-based capabilities. For example (and as noted by the Commission), Canadians could stream video from an emergency incident, send photos of accident damage or a fleeing suspect, or send personal medical information, including accessibility needs, which could greatly aid emergency responders.

This means that there needs to be a capability to transfer information from the caller, not only to the first emergency call taker, but also transmit this information down the line to first responders that have been dispatched to the scene.

The Commission mandated “an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) stewardship model under Commission oversight”, such that the ILECs will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the network and services that interconnect originating operator and access networks with PSAPs. All ILECs are required to establish their NG9‑1‑1 networks and to be ready to provide NG9‑1‑1 Voice service by 30 June 2020 wherever PSAPs have been established in a particular region. The Commission also directed mobile wireless service providers to provide Real Time Text (RTT) based NG9‑1‑1 Text Messaging by 31 December 2020.

On June 5, The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit will feature a special panel looking at “The Evolution of Emergency Communications” with experts on wireless public alerting, next generation 9‑1‑1 as well as first responder networks, including the US FirstNet.

• Will NG9‑1‑1 networks and next generation core services mandated by the Commission meet the expectations of consumers?
• Does today’s model for funneling all calls in a large region to a central first answer point still make sense in an IP world?
• Will first responder networks integrate with these central first answer points in a more meaningful way?

Be sure to register now for The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit, taking place June 4 – 6 in Toronto. Save $250 by registering before May 1.

Register now for The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit!

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The most influential leaders of the Canadian & International ICT industry will gather in Toronto from June 4-6 at The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Alone, any of our keynote speakers would be well worth listening to. The Canadian Telecom Summit brings a dozen keynote addresses – and more than 40 panelists – over 3 unmatched days of presentations, discussions, sharing ideas, forming new relationships, renewing existing ones and even deal making.

Now in its 17th year, The Canadian Telecom Summit has grown to become Canada’s most important annual telecommunications & IT event, attracting hundreds of attendees from around the world each year. No other event presents a complete picture of current and expected trends & developments.

No other event matches The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit for the depth and breadth of topics covered and issues debated.

Come see why The Canadian Telecom Summit has become THE must-attend conference. With more opportunities than ever to learn, network and do business, if you are involved with or impacted by Canadian telecommunications, broadcasting or information technology, you need to be at The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Join your colleagues, competitors and customers for 3 days of spirited discussion and networking.

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The separation of powers between provinces and the federal government has been a leading news story in Canada, triggering a decision by Kinder Morgan to suspend funding of the Trans Mountain Expansion project pending certainty of the company’s ability to complete the $7.4B pipeline.

I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look at the role of federal-provincial relations for digital services.

In 1989, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled in AGT v. Canada (CRTC) that Canada’s major provincial telephone companies were federal undertakings and in 1994, in Téléphone Guèvremont v. Québec (Régie des télécommunications), the Court extended that to jurisdictional determination to the smaller independent companies as well.

Ever since, Canada has avoided many of the fractured regulatory challenges faced by service providers south of the border, dealing with state utility commissions for intra-state services and the Federal Communications Commission for federal services.

That doesn’t mean that provinces are excluded from Canadian communications policy and regulations. Section 13 of the Telecom Act requires provincial consultation prior to the Minister issuing a policy direction or an order to “vary or rescind” a CRTC decision “or refer it back to the Commission for reconsideration”.

Disputes still arise, as we have seen recently when the Government of Quebec sought to have internet service providers block access to certain gambling websites. The CRTC has asserted that service providers can only block traffic if the Commission has given prior authorization, not the province.

Still, there are meaningful roles for provinces to wade into digital policy. As Ontario heads into an election in less than 2 months, what kind of digital leadership might emerge as platforms are being released?

The NDP released its platform [pdf] yesterday, entitled “Change for the Better”. It reads like “More of the Same”. The 100-page document only touches on digital policy in one area, duplicating decades of federal programs by announcing a 10-year, $100M per year rural and northern broadband program. The platform mentions “health” 161 times without ever discussing e-health, distance or remote monitoring, electronic health records or privacy. There is no mention of digital literacy or media literacy. Nothing about use of computers or networking or programming in schools. No digital skills training. No programs to put computers or connectivity into low income households, especially households with school aged kids.

It is disappointing that the platform is silent on other important areas that should be ripe for digital innovation – health, education, social safety net, skills development – all areas that should have been considered by a provincial party, especially a provincial New Democratic Party. The words “digital” and “computer” don’t appear at all in the platform.

When TELUS [Internet for Good] and Rogers [Connected for Success] launched programs to offer computers and connectivity for low-income households, one of the challenges was identifying the eligible households. Rogers ended up working with local community housing agencies; TELUS is working with provincial community service ministries in Alberta and BC.

Provinces can demonstrate leadership on digital issues without wading into areas of federal jurisdiction.

Which party and which province will demonstrate it is prepared for 21st century transformation?

On Wednesday June 6, The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit will have a panel called “Cultivating an Innovation Economy”, moderated by Namir Anani, CEO of the Information & Communications Technology Council of Canada.

The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit takes place June 4-6 in Toronto. Register before the end of April to save $250.

More than 60 leaders who shape Canada’s ICT industry will speak at The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit, June 4-6 in Toronto. The event will include over a dozen keynote addresses offering insights into the future of Canadian ICT, examining the services, technologies, consumer & business trends and regulatory & policy initiatives that drive the information economy.

This year, in addition to the ever popular Regulatory Blockbuster, we are featuring sessions devoted to:

• Cyber Security: Securing your data; protecting your privacy
• Customer Experience Management
• The 5G journey: IoT, connected cars, mobile video and more
• Network Innovation & Service Delivery: Transforming networks & applications for nexgen services
• Cultivating an Innovation Economy
• Artificial Intelligence: Should we embrace or fear what’s coming</li>

With so much public attention focused on telecommunications & broadcast issues, no other event is quite like The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit in covering the industry from every angle.

Now in its 17th year, The Canadian Telecom Summit has become Canada’s most important annual ICT event, attracting attendees from around the world.

For 3 days, The Canadian Telecom Summit delivers thought provoking presentations from the prime movers of the industry. This is your chance to hear from and talk with them in both a structured atmosphere of frank discussion and high-octane idea exchange and network in a more relaxed social setting of genial conversation.

After being immersed in a full program of keynotes and panel discussions, plan to attend our not-to-be-missed Cocktail Reception. This is a chance to unwind, enjoy some delicious food & drink, catch up with colleagues and make new professional acquaintances.

Come meet with leaders from services and equipment suppliers, applications developers, policy makers, regulators and major customers.

Book your seat early.

The Canadian Telecom Summit is the only event you need to attend. For the complete agenda, visit the conference website or download the brochure.

Save $250 by registering before May 1.

Special Networking Events: All participants are invited to join us for our annual cocktail reception Monday evening, June 4.

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Continuing Professional Development: Time spent attending substantive sessions at The Canadian Telecom Summit can be claimed as “Substantive Hours” toward the Law Society of Ontario’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

There is a delicate tension involved in balancing personal privacy interests and public security interests.

At The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit [June 4-6 • Toronto], we will be exploring these issues with a panel, “Cyber Security: Securing your data, protecting your privacy.” The panel will be moderated by Chris Anderson, Principal of Castlekeep Inc. (a consulting firm that provides Information Technology risk, control and security advisory services to its clients).

Joining Chris will be:

• Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Distinguished Expert-in-Residence, leading the Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence at Ryerson University;
• Deborah Evans, Associate Chief Privacy Officer at Rogers Communications;
• Sean Forkan, Vice President and Country Manager (Canada) for VMware; and,
• Carey Frey, VP, Telus Security and CSO at TELUS.

In an opinion piece published last week in the Globe and Mail, Ann Cavoukian wrote “Privacy controls must be placed back into the hands of the individual.” In it, she calls for technologists to develop technologies that will preserve our privacy.

In a world where personal information may increasingly be transmitted and used in multiple locations simultaneously, protecting data privacy may be possible only if the information itself becomes intelligent and capable of making appropriate decisions about its release, on behalf of the data subject.

What are the custodial roles of the obvious and not so obvious players for security, transparency, trust? What is the role for regulators? What penalties should exist for failures?

What would you like to see discussed?

In addition to this panel, The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit is featuring sessions devoted to:

• The Evolution of Emergency Communications: NG-911, Wireless Public Alerts;
• Customer Experience Management;
• The 5G journey: IoT, connected cars, mobile video and more;
• Network Innovation & Service Delivery: Transforming networks & applications for nexgen services;
• Cultivating an Innovation Economy;
• Artificial Intelligence: Should we embrace or fear what’s coming; and,
• Regulatory Blockbuster

Lawyers should note that the time spent attending substantive sessions at The Canadian Telecom Summit can be claimed as “Substantive Hours” toward the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

Download the latest brochure. The 2018 Canadian Telecom Summit is just 2 months away. Have you registered yet?