In Canada, the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) has recently implemented new 911 regulations for Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS). The new regulations require MLTS providers to implement certain features to improve 911 emergency services.
What are the CRTC/MLTS 911 Changes?
The CRTC/MLTS 911 changes are a set of regulations put in place by the Canadian government to improve emergency services for people who dial 911 from a Multi-Line Telephone System (MLTS). An MLTS is a phone system that has more than one line, such as a hotel, school, or office building. When someone dials 911 from an MLTS, the call may not always provide the correct location information, which can cause delays in emergency response times.
To address this issue, the CRTC has mandated that MLTS providers implement certain features that will help emergency responders locate people who call 911 from an MLTS. The new regulations require MLTS providers to:Â Â
- Support direct dialing: MLTS providers must support direct dialing of 911, which means that people can dial 911 without having to dial any other numbers first.
- Provide a callback number: When someone dials 911 from an MLTS, the MLTS must provide a callback number to the emergency dispatcher. This callback number must be the number of the phone that the person is calling from.
- Provide accurate location information: MLTS providers must provide accurate location information to emergency services. This includes the street address, floor number, and room number of the caller.
- Notify someone on site: When someone dials 911 from an MLTS, the MLTS must notify someone on site who can help emergency responders locate the caller.
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- Notify someone on site: When someone dials 911 from an MLTS, the MLTS must notify someone on site who can help emergency responders locate the caller.
Why are the CRTC/MLTS 911 Changes being Put in Place?
The CRTC/MLTS 911 changes are being put in place to improve emergency services for people who dial 911 from an MLTS. In the past, when someone dialed 911 from an MLTS, the call may not have provided the correct location information, which could cause delays in emergency response times. The new regulations require MLTS providers to implement features that will help emergency responders locate people who call 911 from an MLTS.
The new regulations were also put in place because of incidents where people have died because emergency responders were unable to locate them quickly. For example, in 2013, a woman died in a Toronto high-rise building after the 911 dispatcher was unable to locate her quickly. The new regulations aim to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
How will the CRTC/MLTS 911 Changes Affect Phone Systems?
The CRTC/MLTS 911 changes will affect phone systems in several ways. MLTS providers will need to update their systems to ensure that they comply with the new regulations. This may involve upgrading hardware, updating software, or installing new features.
The changes may also affect the cost of phone services for some users. MLTS operators may need to pass on the costs of upgrading their phone systems and providing ongoing training to their users to their customers. However, the CRTC has indicated that it expects the costs associated with the new regulations to be reasonable and that MLTS operators should not use the changes as an opportunity to increase their profits.