Canadian Public Safety Groups Call for Broadband Allocation

What's at stake?

In Canada, August 30, 2011 marks the transition from analog television to digital, freeing up spectrum for potential use by public safety. Many private and public agencies are vying for the additional (and very valuable) spectrum, and Industry Canada (our nation's spectrum regulator) recently opened consultations on the 700 MHz broadband allocations. Canadian police, fire, medical and other emergency professionals must have access to modern and reliable communications capabilities, including high speed data and video, to communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions during emergencies and during day-to-day operations. Public safety's voice must be heard. We need the right tools to protect and save lives.

Why?

• Improves the tri-services ability to protect and save lives.
• The ability to create nationwide, public safety interoperable wireless broadband network for mission critical data is vitally needed. This is the required 21st Century communications system for Canada's responders.
• Spectrum allocations are a key enabler to the Canadian tri-services vision of improved interoperability and integrated emergency management.
• The needs of Canadian responder agencies (and broader public safety community) must be considered during the spectrum allocation process with a vision to build a robust system that meets Public Safety's mission critical requirements.

What can you do?

• Get informed and put this issue on your organization's radar.
• Inform your boards, municipalities, provincial/territorial governments and other governing bodies that spectrum allocations will have a significant impact on public safety in Canada.
• Work with tri-services colleagues and others to advocate a strong voice for public safety in advance of spectrum allocations.
• Look for and act on mobilization information as it sent by CACP, CAFC, EMSCC and others.
• GO TO www.action700.ca !