What's New Archive 2012

Technology Innovation and the Economics of Policing Workshop

The workshop report from the Technology Innovation and the Economics of Policing Workshop event held July 10 and 11, 2012 in Ottawa is now available. Click here to download.

CRTC seeking Input on 9-1-1

Canada's telecom regulator is asking for input on how to improve the 911 emergency service in light of changing technology. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said Monday that it will review the findings of the public consultation which asks for Canadians' input in the following areas:

  • The performance and adequacy of the technology currently employed by 911 services, such as that used to locate a caller using a cellphone.
  • The issues related to the provision of 911 services on next-generation networks, including how systems should be designed and the appropriate institutional arrangements.
  • Policy considerations on 911 matters.

Follow this link for information on the CRTC NG9-1-1 Inquiry. CITIG and its partners are currently evaluating the possibility of a response to the inquiry. At the same time, we have launched the Next Generation NG9-1-1 in Canada Page on the CITIG Web site. See the NG9-1-1 Tab for full information.

NPSTC Develops Launch Requirements for U.S. Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 has made the deployment of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) possible. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the governance and identifies the funding necessary to build a public safety broadband network. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), assigned to deploy and operate the NPSBN, will need a statement of public safety's technical and administrative requirements in the immediate-, medium-, and long-terms. On December 11, 2012, NPSTC presented the Launch Statement of Requirements (SoR) to the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), who in turn has presented it to the FirstNet Board to assist them as they begin to develop the long-awaited NPSBN. Click here to download the document.

Annual Public Safety Interoperability Workshop Successful on Many Fronts

The Sixth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop -- the flagship event of the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG) -- again brought together a broad base of public safety and emergency management practitioners to develop a mutual understanding of the key voice and data interoperability issues facing today's public safety sector. Held from December 2 to 5, 2012 in Toronto, the more than 300 delegates came away with real-world insights, practical knowledge, and a common sense approach to moving forward while attending sessions on the hottest interoperability issues facing public safety today and while being “put to work" during extensive break-out sessions.

Main themes emerging from the Workshop include:

  • Public safety in general must do a better job on setting public expectations around 9-1-1 and responder communications
  • There is a definite need a social media strategy for public safety stakeholders
  • Responders must remain galvanized to address 700 MHz challenge
  • Renewed cross-border focus for 2013
  • Recognition that land mobile voice interoperability is still a significant issue
  • Leadership recognizing the need to operationalize the impending technological advances

For those who attended the conference, please do you part to tell us how we did by filling out the electronic evaluation. And remember, the Seventh Annual Public Safety Interoperability Workshop is scheduled for November 24 to 27, 2013 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver... Details to follow!

Lastly, please visit the Past Meetings folder for select presentations from the Workshop. We will continue posting more as we get them. 

Public Safety Responds to Industry Canada’s Consultation on 700 MHz Broadband Spectrum for Public Safety

On October 24, 2012, the public consultation on the use of the Public Safety Broadband Spectrum in the Bands 758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz (D Block) and 763-768 MHz and 793-798 MHz (PSBB Block) closed. CITIG was a key contributor to the Public Safety Canada coordinated response to the Industry Canada on the consultation. In short, the response supported efforts to secure 20 MHz of dedicated 700 MHz spectrum for public safety broadband, strongly opposed any potential Industry Canada commercial auction of that portion of spectrum. Please visit www.action700.ca for a copy of the joint response, or Industry Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum for the complete list of responses.

CITIG Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety Grant

On October 16, 2012, at a special reception held during the Fifth Annual First Responder Vendor Outreach hosted by CATAAlliance, CITIG announced it has received $100,000 as part of the Motorola Solutions Foundation’s Public Safety and Security Institute. The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions Inc. Through the grant, CITIG will be holding a series of workshops to answer ‘What do we need to do to formally address communications interoperability challenges in support of cross‐border operations for responders?’ With a focus on planning and sharing of best practices, the anticipated 400-plus participants will contribute to making both Canada and the U.S. safer. Read the full media release here.

Operational Planning and Management of Public Safety Events Workshop Announced!

CITIG and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) are proud to present the Operational Planning and Management of Public Safety Events Workshop to be held in Toronto from February 18 to 20, 2013. This workshop, the first of its kind in Canada, is designed to bring together Incident/Public Order/Tactical/Event Commanders, Operational Planners, Crowd Management Team Leaders and key stakeholders responsible for planning events, whether small or large, to begin the process of developing a set of national best practices. While the creation of “standards” may be discussed, it is not within the Organizing Committee’s mandate to develop standards, only to bring leaders together to discuss issues of common interest with a view to creating a national strategy & action plans designed to begin implementing this strategy. See our Event Listingpage for more details and for links to the Workshop Web site. 

Harris County Texas 700 MHz LTE Broadband DATA Network to be featured at CITIG 6

CITIG is very proud to announce that we have been able to get a top official from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to attend and speak at the Sixth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop this December. Todd Early is the Deputy Assistant Director at the Public Safety Communications Bureau of the Texas DPS. He has been helping to lead the strategic process of getting Harris County up and running. Please note that Todd is a strategic level speaker, not a technical speaker, and CITIG 6 has a separate 75 minute break-out (on Tuesday) with both Canadian (CRC & CSS) and US (PSCR) experts talking about the technical aspects of 700 MHz LTE. 

For complete information, go to http://www.cacp.ca/index/eventscontent?contentId=1276.

Agenda Released for the Sixth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop!

Toronto is the place to be from December 2 to 5 for the Sixth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop, and this year's event is shaping up to be the best ever with lots of great new speakers, workshops and new exhibitors. The agenda (just released and draft/subject to change) features:

  • A special day one showcase on 3D In-door Tracking and Location for Fire Fighters & Public Safety Responders (location at Toronto City Hall with separate registration at www.citig.ca)
  • 700 MHz Broadband for Mission Critical Public Safety Data –The Future Looks Bright!
  • Location Based Services & Blue Force Tracking – The Changing Face of Situational Awareness
  • Land Mobile Radio Project Updates
  • Cross Border (North/South – East/West) Interoperability Strategic Planning – Practical Advice & Best Practices
  • Community Paramedicine, Community Fire Fighting and Community Mobilization – How Interoperability and Information Management Can Help
  • SNAPSHOT! Communications Interoperability updates from across Canada (details on this very interactive session coming soon).
  • Assessing the Data: Public Safety Interoperability Studies - What They Say, What They Mean & What to do About it
  • Next Generation 9-1-1 – It’s Coming to Canada – Are you ready?
  • Communications Interoperability Strategy and Action Plan for Canada - Update and Next Steps
  • And lots of great breakout sessions touching on the topics of Provincial Interoperability Updates, 700 MHz, P25, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Social Media for Emergency Management, Cross Border Interoperability, and more.

The Workshop will be capped off by a Bear Pit Session titled Public Safety Interoperability – What’s Working, What’s Not? Be sure to register right away (we will sell out!) and please share this news with all your public safety interoperability contacts (and don’t forget to leverage Social Media: @citig_canada and #CITIG6)! For complete information, go to http://www.cacp.ca/index/eventscontent?contentId=1276.

3D Indoor Tracking and Location for Fire Fighters and Public Safety Responders

CITIG in partnership with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and Toronto Fire Service are hosting a one-day event in Toronto showcasing 3D Indoor Tracking and Location for Fire Fighters and Public Safety Responders. The first of its kind in Canada, this event will provide an opportunity for participants to witness firsthand the challenges and opportunities of this emerging technology through presentations, demos and a live exercise. This Showcase will be sure to interest responders from other disciplines such as Police, Paramedics, HUSAR Teams, Military and Emergency Management. There is no cost to attend, but registration is mandatory.

Companies interested in participating in the demo and live exercise should contact the organizing committee immediately! A small fee will be charged to participating companies to recoup event costs. Download the event flyer or visit our event listing for complete details.


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