CRTC marks the start of Text with 9-1-1 services for hearing or speech impaired persons

GATINEAU QC, March 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is announcing that as of today the 9-1-1 call centre that serves the Metro Vancouver and select surrounding areas of British Columbia will be able to communicate with hearing or speech impaired Canadians using text messages.

Hearing or speech impaired persons in these areas must register with their wireless service provider to access this service. E-Comm 9-1-1, the emergency call centre that serves Metro Vancouver and select surrounding areas is the first emergency call centre in Canada to provide Text with 9-1-1. The CRTC also announces that the City of Calgary is expected to make the Text with 9-1-1 service available to hearing or speech impaired persons as of March 24, 2014 in its region.

It is important to note that the Text with 9-1-1 service will become available in other parts of the country as regional emergency call centres implement this new feature. For more information and to register, Canadians are encouraged to visit www.textwith911.ca where they can find direct links for the service with their wireless service provider.

Quick facts

• As directed by the CRTC in January 2013, wireless carriers and telephone companies were required to make changes to their networks in order to support the provision of Text with 9-1-1 service by January 24, 2014. These companies are ready to support this service across the country where 9-1-1 service is available.
• Text with 9-1-1 service is now available to people who are hearing or speech impaired in Metro Vancouver and select surrounding areas. This service enables call centre operators to communicate with registered users using text messages.
• In the event of an emergency, registered users must first dial 9-1-1 from their cell phone. The emergency call centre will automatically receive a notification to initiate a conversation by text message.
• Voice calling remains the only way to access 9-1-1 services for people who are not hearing or speech impaired.
• Text with 9-1-1 is not available to the general public at this time. Text messages sent to "911" do not reach emergency services.  
• Emergency call centres are operated by municipal, provincial and territorial governments.

Quote
"The availability of Text with 9-1-1 represents a significant advancement in emergency communications and will improve the safety of those who are hearing or speech impaired. The CRTC congratulates E-Comm 9-1-1 as well as the City of Calgary's emergency call centre for moving so quickly in making the changes required to support this service. We now call upon all emergency call centres across the country to work with their respective governments and expeditiously offer this important service in their areas."

Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of CRTC

Additional links

CRTC announces enhancements to 9-1-1 services for Canadians with hearing or speech impairments

Telecom Decision CRTC 2013-22

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SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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