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Ottawa, 29 March 2016

Our reference: 1011-NOC2016-0116

BY E-MAIL

Distribution list

RE: Requests for information related to Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-116 on the Establishment of a regulatory framework for next-generation 9-1-1 in Canada

Dear Madam/Sir:

Today, the Commission published Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-116 to announce a consultation, which is to include an oral hearing, on the establishment of a regulatory framework for next-generation 9-1-1 services in Canada.

In order to assist the Commission in its consideration of the issues set out in the Notice of Consultation, Commission staff is requesting information from the large incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and small incumbent local exchange carriers (SILECs) as well as public safety answering points (PSAPs). Questions specific to ILECS and SILECs (herein referred to as companies) are attached in Appendix 1, and questions specific to PSAPs are attached in Appendix 2. The responses to this request for information must be filed via My CRTC Account by 29 April 2016. Footnote 1

Responses should be provided in a single document, addressing requests for information, in order to facilitate accessibility and administrative processing.  PSAPs may choose to coordinate, organize, and file, their responses in conjunction with other PSAPs who share their position, and similarly companies have the option to file their responses in conjunction with other companies.  These responses will be published on the Commission’s website under the file number identified above.

Pursuant to subsection 37(2) of the Telecommunications Act (the Act), the Commission may require a person other than a Canadian carrier that is in possession of information that the Commission considers necessary for the administration of the Act, to submit the information to the Commission.

As set out in section 39 of the Act and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, persons may designate certain information as confidential.  A person designating information as confidential must provide a detailed explanation on why the designated information is confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure.  Furthermore, a person designating information as confidential must either file an abridged version of the document omitting only the information designated as confidential or provide reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed.

Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Renée Doiron by email at renee.doiron@crtc.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Kay Saicheua
Director, Competition and Emergency Services Policy
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: Renée Doiron, CRTC, 819-997-2755, renee.doiron@crtc.gc.ca; James Ndirangu, CRTC 819-997-3670, james.ndirangu@crtc.gc.ca

Distribution List

Large ILECs

Small ILECs

Public Safety Answering Points

Appendix 1: Interrogatories for Large ILECs and Small ILECs

  1. Identify and describe the major network components, transmission facilities, databases and systems of your company’s current 9-1-1 network. For each major network component, transmission facility, database and system, provide the name of the vendor as well as an estimate for the remaining lifespan, taking into account the availability of replacement parts.  Your response should be supported by network diagrams as appropriate.
  2. Has your company developed a plan to transition existing 9-1-1 networks to NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 architecture and specifications?Footnote 2
    1. If so, submit a copy of the plan or provide a detailed description of the plan.
    2. If not, explain why your company has not yet developed a plan, whether your company expects to develop a plan, and when it is expected to be completed.
  3. What are your company’s estimated timeframes, taking care to identify any major dependencies, to implement a NG9-1-1 network in your existing serving area:
    1. to support all existing 9-1-1 services (wireline, wireless, VoIP 9-1-1 services and Text with 9-1-1 for Canadians who have communication disabilities or who are Deaf or hard of hearing) using NG9-1-1 based network equipment, transmission facilities, systems and databases?
    2. to support future NG9-1-1 services (such as new methods of communication with 9-1-1 operators, and the transmission of new types of information such as pictures, video, and medical records to PSAPs) using NG9-1-1 based network equipment, transmission facilities, systems and databases?
  4. What possible challenges, if any, does your company face in transitioning to an NG9-1-1, and how does your company intend to deal with these challenges?
  5. Describe the current status of the evolution of your company’s current 9-1-1 network to NG9-1-1.  More specifically, with respect to your company’s current 9-1-1 network:
    1. Identify which major network components, transmission facilities, databases and systems can already support NG9-1-1 or require minor to modest changes to support NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification.  Your response should define the changes required and include estimated timeframes to implement these changes. 
    2. Identify which major components, transmission facilities, databases and systems will be fully replaced in the long term or would require major changes to support NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification. Your response should define the changes required and include estimated timeframes to implement these changes. 
    3. Identify any new network components, transmission facilities, databases and systems your company anticipates will need to be installed or added in order to transition to NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification? Your response should define the installations required and include estimated timeframes to deploy these installations. 

    Your responses to (a), (b), and (c) above should clearly identify any dependencies that your company must take into consideration in order for these changes to take place. Please provide network diagrams to support or illustrate your responses to (a), (b), and (c) above as appropriate.

  6. Describe the steps and transition process your company expects to undertake to implement NG9-1-1. At a minimum, indicate:
    1. whether your company expects to maintain both the current 9-1-1 and new NG9-1-1 networks in parallel. If so, for how long?
    2. the dependencies that your company has to take into consideration in determining how long you would have to maintain both the legacy 9-1-1 and NG9-1-1 networks in parallel.
    3. the major network components, transmission facilities, databases and systems of your current 9-1-1 networks  your company expects to maintain, as well as the new ones to be added, during the various steps of the transition.
    4. the dependencies for each of the major network components, transmission facilities, databases and systems of your current 9-1-1 networks that your company expects will have to be maintained, as well as the new ones to be added, during the various steps of the transition.
  7. What are your company’s total expected capital and expense costs (separated by sunk and incremental costs) related to the transition to NG9-1-1?  You response should indicate the annual costs, or if not available the costs in the short term (1-3years), mid-term (3-5 years), and long-term (5-10 years).  Your response should provide supporting rationale and evidence to support your answer.

Appendix 2: Interrogatories for PSAPs

  1. Identify the communities your PSAP serves and the estimated number of residents in your service area. Provide maps if available.
  2. Identify and describe the secondary PSAPs that your PSAP has arrangements with.  Further, provide the estimated number of residents served by each secondary PSAP.
  3. Identify the telecommunications service providers, including ILECs and small ILECs, on whom your PSAP currently relies for 9-1-1 network services.  Further, identify and describe the specific telecommunications services that your primary PSAPs receives and from whom.
  4. Indicate and describe the number of PSAPs operating in your province, including both primary and secondary PSAPs.
  5. How is your PSAP funded? For example, is your PSAP funded by your municipal, provincial or territorial government and by what mechanism, such as municipal levies, are funds raised?
  6. Describe how decisions on service improvements or technical system upgrades are made for your PSAP.
  7. Identify and describe your PSAP’s current computer aided dispatch (CAD) software, 9-1-1 systems, 9-1-1 databases, and other PSAP 9-1-1 equipment, and estimate the remaining lifespan of each.  Your response should be supported by the name of the vendors and network diagrams as appropriate.
  8. Has your PSAP started NG9-1-1 transition planning? If so, submit a copy of the plan, and if a written plan is not available, describe the plan.  In addition, provide your estimated NG9-1-1 implementation costs, and indicate what progress your PSAP has made to secure funding for the implementation.
  9. What are your PSAP’s estimated timeframes, including major dependencies, to implement NG9-1-1:
    1. to support all existing 9-1-1 services (wireline, wireless, VoIP 9-1-1 services and Text with 9-1-1 for Canadians who have communication disabilities or who are Deaf or hard of hearing) using NG9-1-1 based CAD software, systems, databases, and other PSAP equipment?
    2. to support future NG9-1-1 services (such as new methods of communication with 9-1-1 operators, and the transmission of new types of information such as pictures, video, and medical records to PSAPs) using NG9-1-1 based CAD software, systems, databases, and other PSAP equipment?
  10. What possible challenges, if any, does your PSAP face in transitioning to NG9-1-1, and how does your PSAP intend to deal with these challenges?
  11. Describe the current status your PSAPs readiness for NG9-1-1.  More specifically:
    1. What major CAD software, 9-1-1 systems, 9-1-1 databases, and other 9-1-1 equipment of your PSAP’s current 9-1-1 system can already support NG9-1-1 or require minor or modest changes to support NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification?  Your response should define the changes required and include estimated timeframes to implement these changes.  .
    2. What major CAD software, 9-1-1 systems, 9-1-1 databases, and other 9-1-1 equipment of your PSAP’s current 9-1-1 system will be fully replaced in the long term or would require major changes to support NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification? Your response should define the changes required and include estimated timeframes to implement these changes. 
    3. What new CAD software, 9-1-1 systems, 9-1-1 databases, and other 9-1-1 equipment does your PSAP anticipate will be required in order to transition to NG9-1-1 as defined in the NENA i3 specification? Your response should define the installations required and include estimated timeframes to deploy these installations. 

    Your response to (a), (b) and (c) above should also identify the dependencies that your PSAP must take into consideration in order for these changes to take place, as well as network diagrams as appropriate.

  12. Does your PSAP need to review current arrangements with Secondary PSAPs and/or emergency responders in order to transition to a NG9-1-1 PSAP?

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Information on how to submit documents to the CRTC, can be found at the following link http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/g100.htm

Return to footnote 1

Footnote 2

https://www.nena.org/?page=i3_Stage3

Return to footnote 2

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