30 March 2011

File:  07-98-0011

The Right Honourable Prime Minster Stephen Harper

The Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety & Correctional Services, Province of Ontario

The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, Government of Canada

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, Government of Canada

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

Dear Sirs:

Re:      Dedicating a Portion of 700 MHz Broadband to Public Safety Agencies

I am writing on behalf of the Ottawa Police Services Board to advise that at its meeting on 28 March 2011 the Board endorsed the following resolution, which was approved earlier in the month by the Police Services Board Chairs of the 12 largest police services in Ontario:

WHEREAS the conversion of television signals to digital from analog has freed up a dedicated spectrum available for transmission purposes known as the 700 MHz band;

and WHEREAS the 700 MHz band is being returned to the federal government through its regulatory body, Industry Canada, to determine use of this frequency, including the possible use of some of this spectrum by public safety agencies for broadband data communications;

and WHEREAS international studies and Canadian public safety responders experience has demonstrated that the lack of adequate voice communications capability and interoperability increases the number of associated casualties, the severity of injuries and loss of life, and the economic impact of emergency incidents;

and WHEREAS the safety and security of Canadians affected by emergencies, as well as that of first responders, including police officers, paramedics and fire fighters, depends upon effective voice communications between public safety agencies;

and WHEREAS the United States government has recognized this issue as a priority and publicly stated it will be allocating 20 MHz of the 700 MHz for its public safety agencies, therefore ensuring cross border interoperability;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Big 12 Chairs of Police Services in Ontario call upon the federal and provincial governments to dedicate and reserve 20 MHz of the 700 MHz band for mission critical broadband data use by public safety agencies;

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be submitted to the federal and provincial Ministers responsible for Public Safety, Industry Canada, and to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Ontario;

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be circulated to the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards, the Canadian Association of Police Boards, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Police Association of Ontario seeking their support for retaining 20 MHz of the 700 MHz band for mission critical broadband data public safety purposes.

The Ottawa Police Services Board wishes to draw to your attention its support for this resolution and request your support to dedicate 20 MHz of broadband to public safety agencies.  There have been too many examples worldwide in recent memory when the inability of public safety workers to share information in “real time” through a shared communications network resulted in significant loss of life and unnecessary tragedy for many families.  The unprecedented release of 700 MHz of broadband frequency presents a unique opportunity to fill a critical need in the emergency services sector by dedicating a small portion of it to public safety agencies.

We hope we can count on your support in taking advantage of this important opportunity. 

Sincerely,

(original signed by)

Councillor Eli El-Chantiry

Chair, Ottawa Police Services Board

cc:       Chairs, Big 12 Police Services Boards

Ontario Association of Police Services Boards

Canadian Association of Police Boards

The Honourable Ian Davidson, Deputy Minister of Community Safety & Correctional Services, Province of Ontario

The Honourable William V. Baker, Deputy Minister of Public Safety, Government of Canada

The Honourable Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister of Industry, Government of Canada