Microcell’s encounters new foe in battle to rollout E911 on a national basis

The rollout of wireless Enhanced 911 is proving more difficult than Microcell Telecommunications Inc would like. First there was the requirement by incumbent telcos that a technical trial be held in each operating territory – a demand Microcell warned would unnecessarily delay the arrival of a national E911 service. In March, it formally asked the CRTC to step in to speed up the process. Another group has since come forward demanding new conditions that Microcell says are onerous and unnecessary. The Montreal Urban Community (MUC) and the Union des Municipalités du Québec (UMQ) say when dispatchers receive an E911 call from a wireless device, the system must provide more information than just the caller’s 10-digit call-back number and the address of the cell site/sector that captured the call. On April 23, Microcell filed the following response to the CRTC on this issue. The comments have been edited for brevity: MUC/UMQ’s attack on Microcell’s intentions appears to be centred on a belief that somehow the application constitutes an attempt to escape its obligations as a prospective wireless Competitive Local Exchange Carrier ("CLEC"). We respond by noting that nowhere in the application does Microcell make mention of its obligations as a prospective CLEC, let alone seek to alter these obligations. Microcell’s ambition to provide E 9-1-1 functionality to our customers through proven, cost-effective technology exists independently of our regulatory status – CLEC or WSP. It is unfortunate that the MUC/UMQ does not appear willing to accept this. Yet even more disconcerting is MUC/UMQ’s attempt to ratchet up the functionalities that Microcell has sought to make available through its application, without any assessment of practicality or feasibility… MUC/UMQ argues that:"… what is also needed in the capability to display in real time not only the caller’s 10-digit call-back number and the address of the cell site/sector that captured the call but also the name, the civic address and, if available, the wireline telephone number at such civic address, of the wireless subscriber." MUC/UMQ is fully aware of the technical limitations and realities which prevent the provision of the capabilities described above…The comments of the MUC/UMQ are impractical, unhelpful and particularly disappointing given the opportunity they have wasted to support the advancement of public safety that the application presents and in which the MUC/UMQ has a specific interest. In its application, Microcell has called for the mandated provision of standardized Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 functionalities consisting of the capability to display at a PSAP, in real time while a wireless 9-1-1 call is in progress, the caller’s 10-digit call-back number as well as the address of the cell site/sector that captured the call. These functionalities have been vetted by accredited standards bodies, are supported by 9-1-1 platform manufacturers, and are already available in numerous locations throughout North America including two Canadian provinces. In contrast, MUC/UMQ is requesting fantastic new functionalities that, to Microcell’s knowledge, exist nowhere in North America… Buried beneath the MUC/UMQ’s accusations of intent and their improvised ratcheting up of demands is nevertheless a kernel of recognition that enhancements to wireless 9-1-1 functionality are a good and necessary thing. In Microcell’s view, this is all the Commission need retain from the MUC/UMQ’s comments. None of the parties that commented on Microcell’s application have called into question the value of the enhanced access services referenced therein or the obvious public safety benefits that will flow therefrom. Furthermore, none of the respondent ILECs have identified any meaningful impediment to the widespread deployment of these access services, other than a lack of will on the part of these same respondents. We submit that it is in the public interest for the CRTC to mandate the provision of these access services

Microcell’s encounters new foe in battle to rollout E911 on a national basis

News | April 30, 2001

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