CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC)Network Working Group

CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC)Network Working Group

Implementation of Regulatory Framework
Task Identification Form

Date Originated: / 17 Oct. 2007
Working Group: / Network / Date Revised: / 20 Nov 2007
Task #: / 21 / File: / NTTF021 (proposed)
Task Title: / Network Congestion Mitigation Measures for Implementation of Community Notification Service (CNS)
Task Description: / This task is designed to explore the impacts on telecommunications service provider’s local networks subsequent to the implementation of Community Notification Service (CNS). In particular, the issues to be explored are congestion of local service provider’s networks when CNS is to be used and operational issues related to centralization of CNS functionality.
Background
On February 28, 2007 the Commission decided that it is in the public interest to allow incumbent local exchange carriers to provide enhanced 9-1-1 information for a telephone-based community notification service, subject to limitations to its circumstances of use, with appropriate safeguards, notification requirements and other constraints.
Further to this, the CRTC instructed the Emergency Services Working Group (ESWG) to work on a number of implementation issues related to making CNS a reality in Canada.
Among the issues referred to the CISC were the following items contained in paragraph’s 210 and 211 of the Decision:
“210. The Commission notes that the parties did not agree upon any specific methods to address the network congestion issues raised by enhanced CNS. The Commission considers that it would be appropriate for CISC to address the impact of outbound enhanced CNS alerts on LECs' networks and the necessary measures to safeguard against degradation of emergency services.”
“211. The Commission notes that parties did not identify specific issues involving the centralization of enhanced CNS functions with the ILECs. The Commission considers that it would be appropriate for CISC to address, on behalf of CLECs and SILECs, any future operational issues that may arise as a result of ILEC-centralized enhanced CNS functions.”
After discussion within the ESWG, it was felt that, with respect to the paragraphs above, the ESWG lacked the requisite technical capabilities to effectively deal with such issues. As such, it was decided to refer such issues to the NTWG for discussion and resolution.
The NTWG is being asked to address the following potential issues:

• analyze and recommend processes and procedures to avoid network congestion during mass outbound calling for CNS. Some of the issues for analysis should include:

• remotes (DMS1U, RSCs), hosts (DMS10,100, 200) and non Nortel switches, including IP softswitches;
• guidelines/rule of thumb for mass outbound calling (how do we serve 1 or 1,000,000 calls or some number in between), including the number and size of interconnections between the CNS provider and LEC switches, the call handling capability of LEC switches, and the rate of call generation such that enhanced CNS should be configured in such a way that it minimizes the negative impact on routine subscriber calling capabilities;
• industry standards/guidelines/policy/limits on performing mass outbound calling; and
• effect of CNS message length on outbound process

• analyze the impact(s) of the Call Privacy feature (if any) on receiving E-CNS notification.
• analyze the operational issues related to the centralization of CNS functionality, including any future operational issues that may arise as a result of ILEC-centralized enhanced CNS functions and any additional unforeseen operational costs associated with centralizing LEC functions for enhanced CNS

Priority: / M / Critical Task: / N / Due Date: / Feb. 2008
Cross Impacts: / Emergency Services Working Group
Work Plan and Time Frame:
Members of the NTWG will identify and refine the issues, taking into account the suggested issues as noted above.

• Members which identify potential issues will define the scope and/or issue and describe the situation where the issue may arise as well as provide an analysis of the impact associated with the issue;
• The members of the NTWG will seek a resolution to the issue and augment and/or modify the affected specifications and/or guidelines (including other consensus documentation) accordingly (it is also possible that new specification(s) may be required);
• Solutions that are the object of a consensus by the NTWG will be documented accordingly and a copy to the Steering Committee.

NTWG will:

1. get emergency service providers to present a framework to the NTWG on how CNS would work, i.e. their typical operating parameters, typical volume, trunk size, number of messages being sent on a time basis (i.e., number of messages per hour, per day, etc.), message length, etc.
2. seek input from carriers based on the information provided by the CNS operators, regarding any potential network congestion impacts and determine if any mitigation measures are required
3. if (2) is required, develop the appropriate mitigation measures that will be applied to Canadian LECs

Current Status: / Proposed
Task Originator: / Leonard D. Eichel, on behalf of the ESWG
Cogeco Cable Inc.
5, Place Ville Marie, Suite 905
Montreal, QuebecH3B 2G2
Tel: (514) 874-2600, ext. 364
Email:
Task Team: / Members of the Network Working Group

Activity Diary:

Serial / Date / Activity
1 / 13 Nov 07 / LDE from Cogeco presented the TIF. Suggestions were made from the group to narrow the title and clean up wording.
Questions were also raised regarding the scope, i.e., will it be necessary to address a new trunking plan for these types of calls.
A number of parties clearly expressed the inability to proceed on this TIF without first acquiring a better understanding of what the CNS operators will actually propose to do with their current or future systems.
A discussion was held about the relative merits of either developing information by the group or by proceeding with asking further questions of CNS operators first before any other work can be accomplished.
Sam Yung (Chair) suggested that the work plan should be modified as follows:
(1) get emergency service providers to present a framework to the NTWG on how CNS would work, i.e. their typical operating parameters, typical volume, trunk size, number of messages being sent on a time basis (i.e., number of messages per hour, per day, etc.), message length, etc.
(2) to seek input from carriers based on the information provided by the CNS operators, regarding any potential network congestion impacts and determine if any mitigation measures are required
(3) if (2) is required, develop the appropriate mitigation measures that will be applied to Canadian LECs
Doug Kwong (BellCanada) presented some information on what is occurring in New Brunswick. The system is somewhat limited to about a thousand households within 20 miles of a Nuclear plant in NB. In addition, they are not doing a voice announcement. Households are presented with a device that that allows the receipt of a coded text message at 2.5 KHz/second down the copper loops and a message is displayed for six seconds in total. This precipitated a discussion around just what was going to be sent to households – a text message or speech message? It was shown that the ESWG is talking about a speech message.
Sam asked James if any Canadian municipalities have implemented a system of this nature. James replied that StrathconaCounty in Alberta and the Province of New Brunswick were the only two. It was also mentioned that the city of Gatineau had a system ready to go with their own system.
Sam Yung pointed out that the Commission mentioned that, when CNS is implemented, 911 calling capabilities are not to be affected. Sam mentioned that he would, as a representative of Telus, get together information a technical nature that might assist the discussion and is asking other carriers to do the same.

Action Register:

Action / Opened / Prime / P[1] Date / A[2] Date / Status
1 / Draft TIF / 17 Oct 07 / LD Eichel / 13 Nov 07 / 13 Nov 07 / Closed
2 / Invite reps from StrathconaCounty, Gatineau and Province of NB to attend NTWG as well as reps from other emergency service providers to provide information on what type of CNS system they intend to implement. / 13 Nov 07 / LD Eichel and Sam Yung / 11 Dec 07 / Open
3 / Carriers to provide baseline technical information to further the discussion / 13 Nov 07 / All / 11 Dec 07 / Open

Associated Contributions:

Date / Contributor / Title / Date
Reviewed / File name on
CRTC Web page

NTTF021 (Proposed).docpage 1 of 5

[1]Planned completion date.

[2]Actual completion date.