1) In case you missed the webinar EHT hosted on June 13, here is the recording of it. This webinar covered a wide range of topics presented by experts in their fields.
(click on photos to enlarge)
WIRELESS IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN EXPERT WEBINAR ON SCIENCE, POLICY AND LAW
“A Science, Policy and Law Webinar on the Impacts to Flora and Fauna from Cell Towers, Wireless Networks and Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation”
2) About 18 months ago, we started learning that Telus was removing, without our having a choice, our copper-based landline phone service which is analog and replacing it with digital. What this means, in part, is that our dependable wired phone service is being replaced with phone service that uses the internet. VoIP is “Voice over Internet Protocol”. The claim is that this will enhance 911 service (hence “Next Generation 911”) allowing pictures, videos, etc. which are not possible with the analog system.
There are many problems with this change but one major one that I shared and for which I tried, unsuccessfully, to get a response from CRTC and other government departments is: How do we call 911 if there is a long power outage or the internet is down.? I was told that there will be a battery-backup for power that will work for a while (maybe 2-3 hours) but after that, you must have a cell phone to use. But if the internet is down, there will be no phone service except by a cell phone. What if we don’t have a cell phone or what if the cell phone is dead?
I’ve provided some links to refresh your memory about the new “NG 911” service. If you want more information, go to our website and search for “NG 911” or “NG911“.
TELUS begins roll-out of next-generation 9–1-1 service across Alberta and British Columbia enabling critical new means of communication with first responders
Next Generation 9-1-1
But there are problems with the NG 911 system that the major players are facing, causing delays in getting it going. I do not have a subscription to The Wire Report but a member sent these articles. From looking at the website, it appears that one of the problems is with providing NG 911 service to MLTs (multiple-lines telephone service). This would be businesses and places like hospitals, schools, etc. I don’t see any indication that the lack of 911 service in the event of prolonged power outages or internet disruption is one of the problems being addressed.
Bell presses pause on NG911 onboarding
02/24/2023 5:04 pm EST
“BCE Inc. is implementing a temporary embargo for next-generation 911 (NG911) onboarding and go-live activities for all originating network providers.
A Bell technical network specialist notified approximately 35 telecom companies and organizations of the embargo early Friday morning.
Bell told originating network providers (ONPs) that it would notify them when the planned resumption of activities is known.
Bell did not comment on the embargo but told the Wire Report that it is on target to meet the original deadlines for NG911 and some carriers are already fully onboarded and transmitting live 911 calls over the network.
Last month, a Bell software upgrade caused unexpected call processing failures to 911 for several houses In Nova Scotia. The update was in preparation for 10-digit dialing for New Brunswick. Ten-digital dialing is needed in order to implement NG911.
There are several open files before the CRTC regarding its NG911 rollout.
Telus Corp. filed a Part 1 application in April requesting that small incumbent local exchange carriers (SILECs) be classified as ONPs instead of service providers for NG 911. The incumbent argued that its proposal would “drastically reduce” NG911 costs “and is the best way to address the affordability concerns” raised by the CRTC. The Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA) argued to the commission that SILECs are four years into negotiations and the network provisioning activities associated with implementing the CRTC orders, therefore, analyzing the decision now “clearly harms” the public interest.
Quebecor Inc. and Bell are also in a dispute over NG911 costing. In a Part 1 application filed on Nov. 21, Bell says that the Quebec telecom is refusing to cough up money for enhanced 911 (E911) and next generation 911 services, even though the CRTC has mandated such fees until March 2025. Videotron objects to paying for both services at the same time.
Quebecor in turn filed a Part 1 in December. The company said that Bell’s fee model is completely outdated and “does not prevent it from pocketing tens of millions of dollars per year.”
https://www.thewirereport.ca/2023/02/24/bell-presses-pause-on-ng911-onboarding/
CRTC seeks information on Bell’s NG911 embargo
Briefs | 06/19/2023 4:35 pm EDT
“The CRTC has sent a letter to BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada demanding to know why the telecom imposed an embargo on next generation 911 (NG911) onboarding and go-live activities.
According to the June 15 letter [https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/lt230615.htm#:~:text=On%2010%20March%202023%2C%20in%20a%20letter%20accompanying,in%20time%20for%20the%20April%202023%20reporting%20period], Bell told the commission in March that it had implemented the pause in NG911 service. The company expected the embargo to be finished by the April 2023 reporting period but was in fact not lifted until May 1.
The regulator has posed a series of eight questions it wants the telecom firm to answer by June 26. They include the reasons for the embargo, how Bell communicated with originating network providers and whether any future pauses are likely to occur.
Bell told the Wire Report it will have no additional comment until the CRTC deadline.”
https://www.thewirereport.ca/2023/06/19/crtc-seeks-information-on-bells-ng911-embargo/
Sharon Noble, Director, Citizens for Safer Tech
“The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.” Aristotle
Sent from my wired laptop with no wireless components. Practice Safe Tech.