Wireless E9-1-1 Working Group

The Wireless E9-1-1 Working Group was established in Sept/97 as a result of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) initiated roundtable forum on E9-1-1. The working group is co-chaired by the CWTA and the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board to which Industry Canada is participating member.

Mandate

The Wireless E9-1-1 Working Group will examine the migration of E9-1-1 service in a wireless environment to give it the equivalent capabilities of wireline E9-1-1 in locations where a PSAP is capable of receiving the information. The working group will identify, evaluate and prepare options for the migration of wireless E9-1-1 service in accordance with the priorities the working group identifies.

Impetus for E9-1-1

In October 1996, the FCC issued a notice outlining the criteria for the establishment of a E9-1-1 service in the United States. The milestones imposed upon the wireless telecommunications industry for those Public Service Answering Points (PSAP) capable of receiving the information are as follows:

October 1, 1997

• forwarding of 9-1-1 calls to the PSAP without validation

April 1, 1998

• providing the 9-1-1 callers callback # and cell site location

October 1, 2001

• providing 9-1-1 caller location within 125 metres

See also:CWTA E9-1-1 website section (including the latest Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 Trial Report - April 2002)