CRTC to look at 911 of future

Text messages, videos and even tweets are some of the new technologies that could be used to contact 911 that the federal broadcast regulator may have to consider as it looks at ways to improve the emergency service.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is asking Canadians, especially emergency responders, for ideas on how to improve 911 service in light of changing technology.

The next generation of 911 services will be a game changer, Lance Valcour of the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group said Monday.

“Currently, if you want 911 services, you have to phone,” said Valcour, executive director of the group.

Right now, you can’t send a tweet to 911 to get help, Valcour said.

“But also in the future it will be video to 911, photographs to 911, potentially social media to 911,” he added.

Text messaging to 911 is being tested for the hearing and voice impaired.

The CRTC noted that thousands of Canadians rely on 911 service every year.

“As telecommunications networks evolve and adopt new technologies, we all have an interest in ensuring that the system continues to meet Canadians’ needs,” CRTC commissioner Tim Denton said in a statement.

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association said more than half of 911 calls in urban centres now come from cellphones.