Waterloo Region to start implementing a new 9-1-1 system

The province’s 9-1-1 system will undergo a change, the first in over 40 years.

The new system, called Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG 911), will make the 9-1-1 system more accessible from a verity of media platforms.

Users will be able to text and send pictures as well as video to 9-1-1.

In order to get to this point, the current system needs to be upgraded, and there will be significant cost in each of the three phases of implementation.

The first phase, the least expensive in the upgrade, will cost approximately $265,000 and will provide prescribed text services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and who are speech impaired.

Although, texting will only be available to those who register their mobile device with their service provider.

The remaining two phases of the system upgrade will have changes to the voice telephone system and the implementation of multi-media capability.

Chair of the Police Services Board, Tom Galloway tells 570 News the board is looking to have the cost shared between all emergency services, such as fire and EMS.

“These new costs are going to be cost shared and that police isn’t going to bare the total cost of providing the 9-1-1 service when in fact, 30% of what they do is not police related.”

The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission along with Bell Canada, are requiring that all 9-1-1 centres across Ontario begin the transition to the new IP based platform by 2014, in order to being the first phase of NG 911.

Galloway adds that the implementation of the NG 911 will increase the workload of call centre staff.

“Some of these updates that are required by the CRTC are going to cost some significant money. There are the up-front costs of the software and the technical equipment changes but we do believe it is going to increase the workload considerable for our communicators in our COM-Centre.”

Galloway adds that the system will effect the Police Services Board’s budget in the coming years.

“They (The Police Services Board Members) are fairly sure that the operating costs, the number of communications staff we are going to have to have on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week, is going to go up as a result of this and we will be dealing with those costs later on down the road.”

Galloway says that the conversation is starting now although the changes will not take effect for the next few years.

“It’s not an immediate thing, although the technical changes and the software is likely going to have to be dealt with in the 2014 budget. The actually operations themselves, where the larger costs are, is not until 2015, but we want to start the conversation with the region and with the cities about how all of this is going to be funded.”

The current system will be decommission by December 2014.