NLIS 4
Municipal Affairs
June 22, 2012
Province-Wide 911 Service to be Implemented Across
Newfoundland and Labrador
Today the Provincial Government outlined its plan to proceed with
implementation of a province-wide 911 service. By the end of 2014, basic 911
service will be expanded throughout the province and implementation of a
more advanced 911 system (Next Generation 911) will have commenced.
“The Provincial Government is committed to expanding and improving the
911 system in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien,
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and
Emergency Services. “It was important for us to get the research done to
ensure the feasibility of a province-wide 911 system. Our government will
now make the investments necessary to move forward. We understand and
appreciate the benefits that a 911 system provides and will make this vital
service available to residents of the province.”
The Provincial Government today released a feasibility study for 911
and/or Enhanced 911/Next Generation 911 service options by POMAX Consulting
Incorporated. In advancing a Next Generation 911 system, the financial
commitment of a province-wide service is anticipated to involve an initial
capital investment of approximately $1.5 million with an annual cost of $2.3
million upon full system implementation. An additional investment may be
allocated for the provision of technical expertise for the planning process
related to the implementation.
Currently, approximately 40 per cent of the province is covered by a
basic 911 service. The report outlines areas to be examined before a
province-wide 911 system can be put in place, including such areas as
infrastructure and civic addressing. In addition, municipalities and other
stakeholders will have a role to play in implementing the system across the
province.
As recommended in the report, a senior level project team will be
immediately established to further define a plan to expand basic
province-wide 911 service by the end of 2014 and to commence implementation
of a Next Generation 911 system. The Provincial Government will report
progress to the public in January 2013.
“The report outlines the work that needs to occur in preparation for a
province-wide 911 system and our government will move immediately to begin
that work,” said Minister O’Brien. “We recognize the importance of 911 to
the residents of our province and we will move as quickly as possible to
begin rolling out 911 services in areas currently not covered in the
province, followed by a longer-term plan of improving the existing system
with Next Generation 911 services.”
The Provincial Government engaged POMAX Consulting Incorporated to carry
out a feasibility study of 911 and/or Enhanced 911/Next Generation 911
service options in Newfoundland and Labrador. POMAX Consulting has been
operating and incorporated in Canada and the United States since 1996. The
company has extensive experience and technical skill in emergency response
systems, effective operational models, organization, governance, and cost
impact for projects throughout North America.
A summary of the finding of the POMAX Feasibility Study can be found in
the backgrounder below. A copy of the report can be found online at
www.gov.nl.ca/fes
- 30 -
Video of News Conference (25 MB)
Media contact:
Cheryl Gullage
Public Relations Specialist
Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 631-9962
cherylgullage@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Summary of Findings of the POMAX Feasibility Study
- It is estimated that 40 per cent of the population of Newfoundland and
Labrador have basic 911 service.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador, basic 911 service is currently available in
three areas of the province: North East Avalon, Corner Brook / Bay of
Islands, and Labrador West (Labrador City and Wabush).
- Due to the distribution of the population in the province, unique
challenges exist in remote and isolated areas, in particular, in the
Labrador region of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The North East Avalon 911 service is operated by St. John’s Regional Fire
Department (SJRFD) while the remaining two systems are operated by the Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC).
- Basic 911 is also available throughout the province from mobile phones as
long as a cellular signal can be accessed. This service is available even in
areas where landline phones cannot access 911.
- Cellular 911 calls originating from geographic areas not normally answered
by the SJRFD or RNC are received at the RCMP ‘B’ Division in St. John’s.
- The four 911 centres (SJRFD, RNC [2 PSAPs], and RCMP) are known as Public
Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
Definitions of Basic, Enhanced, and Next Generation 911
- The purpose of a 911 system is to facilitate the contact of emergency
services. It is an easy to remember number available to almost everyone in
Canada and the United States.
- Basic 911, is a three digit telephone number which, in Newfoundland and
Labrador, is translated to a seven or 10 digit number through a method known
as Translation-encoded Instruction (which is transparent to the caller), and
routed to the closest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Translation-encoded Instruction is similar to call-forwarding but is more
robust.
- Enhanced 911 (E911) refers to the additional availability of Automatic
Number Identification (ANI) and Automatic Location Identification (ALI).
These features allow the PSAP call taker to see, on their computer screen,
the telephone number and address from which a call is coming. ANI is similar
to the commercially available calling line identification available on home
telephones, except that the caller cannot block the display of his or her
number.
- Next Generation (NG) 911 is a more advanced form of Enhanced 911. In
addition to the features provided by Enhanced 911, Next Generation 911
(NG911) prepares emergency services to keep pace with changing methods of
communication and data transfer. Next Generation 911 enables communication
via text messaging (including the transmission of text for the hearing
impaired community), and allows the transmission of images, video and other
data to a public safety answering point or emergency service. NG911
infrastructure is intended to replace Enhanced 911 services over time.
Feasibility Study Findings
- Infrastructure, technical, and organizational resources already exist in
Newfoundland and Labrador to support the expansion of a basic 911 system
using the same Translation-encoded Instruction methodology already in use at
the existing 911 centres.
- 911 delivery through the use of Translation-encoded Instruction means that
there are no significantly unique challenges associated with the delivery of
basic 911, Enhanced 911, or Next Generation service in Labrador or remote or
isolated areas of the province.
- An Enhanced or Next Generation 911 system can be piloted in any area of
the province that has effective civic addressing. Steps would have to be
taken to validate the addressing system, and to confirm the accuracy of
maps. Bell Aliant’s telephone switch network is able to accommodate an
Enhanced or Next Generation 911 system throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,
except for six communities in Labrador representing approximately 250
customers.
- Existing models that are most applicable to the needs of Newfoundland and
Labrador can be found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward
Island.
2012 06 22
11:20 a.m.