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Pelmorex All Channel Alert “ACA” Service Le réseau d’alerte multicanaux “RAM”: 

Pelmorex All Channel Alert “ACA” Service Le réseau d’alerte multicanaux “RAM” Paul Temple, Sr. VP Corporate Development Industry Canada Public Alerting Forum Ottawa March 2, 2005

What is the ACA service?: 

What is the ACA service? The All Channel Alert (ACA) is an end-to-end service that delivers and inserts local emergency alerts over all the TV channels distributed by cable and satellite services. It allows government agencies to alert viewers of local emergencies in minutes, in English and/or French.

An end-to-end service: 

Pelmorex will provide a single point of contact and national reach for authorized government agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, as well as ongoing monitoring and liaison. Government authorities will also be offered the opportunity to alert viewers to non-weather related emergencies, such as chemical spills, forest fires, or threatened acts of terrorism. An end-to-end service

Slide4: 

ACA benefits to government partners Alert message delivered unchanged to targeted geographic areas Reaches a large audience within minutes Alerts supported in English and/or French, in text and audio No fee to government users cable/satellite subscriber-pay system with a small monthly fee of 8¢/mo. Canadian technologies, Canadian supplier, continually upgraded

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Full coverage across Canada (more than 1200 sites) Our cable distribution across Canada

Slide6: 

Satellite and wireless cable (MMDS) customers also served

Slide7: 

Most viewers will see an alert message “crawl” across the top or bottom of their TV screen. ACA on TV screen

Slide8: 

ACA on TV screen In some cases, depending on cable company equipment, a full page text message will be shown. Other formats may be used depending on system set-up.

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Audio alert serves visually-impaired A generic audio alert will notify those unable to read text to seek more information. In most cases this generic message will be available in both official languages. “An emergency alert has been issued for your area.”

Phone options for visually-impaired: 

Where provided by the issuing authority, a full audio version will be available on a 1-800 number. This option developed based on feedback from CNIB. “An emergency alert has been issued for your area.” Emergency alert for Edmonton... Phone options for visually-impaired

Slide11: 

What is an emergency? An emergency is considered to be an imminent or unexpected threat to life or property (i.e. tornado, terrorist act, civil emergency etc). Environment Canada issued 100’s of weather warnings in Canada last year, but not all were “an emergency”. The Weather Network and MétéoMédia already distribute Environment Canada’s alerts.

Slide12: 

Access to ACA - the principle Access to the ACA system is limited to those government authorities that have the legal authority either…. To declare a state of emergency or To monitor and inform the public of imminent or unexpected threats to the life or property of the public at large.

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Who in practice has access to ACA Practically speaking, for most municipalities this means: Access likely in co-ordination with the province Municipal staff may be delegated to access the system, but ultimately the official with the authority under law is held accountable.

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ACA access at senior levels of gov’t At the senior levels of government access is limited to: Certain ministries within provincial and territorial governments Certain ministries within the federal government (e.g. Environment Canada).

Strengthening the system: 

Strengthening the system Our application also proposes: Sending alerts directly to all local broadcaster newsrooms to encourage radio and off-air television alerts.

We’re committed to consultation: 

We’re committed to consultation In our CRTC application we propose: ACA User Advisory Board ACA Working Group on Launch and Implementation ACA Technical Committee

ACA User Advisory Board: 

ACA User Advisory Board Experts from emergency agencies at all levels of government across Canada. Will share best practices and advice on ACA programs and priorities, including access, standard procedures, user training, public education. Will help respond to feedback from public, broadcasters, BDUs.

ACA Working Group on Launch and Roll-Out: 

ACA Working Group on Launch and Roll-Out Will include representatives of the Broadcasters Public Alerting Working Group, broadcasters, BDUs, government agencies. Will provide assistance and advice on implementation of the service, including public awareness and promoting regular system testing & staff training.

ACA Technical Committee: 

ACA Technical Committee Permanent technical committee composed of representative of BDUs, their suppliers and broadcasters. Collaboration and consultation in ongoing ACA equipment and service upgrades as new versions of ACA technology are developed and implemented.

The end result: 

The end result 6.8M households served within first year by ACA, over 9M by end of year 3. Emergency alerts delivered within minutes of their confirmation National coverage accommodating local situations Close coordination with emergency authorities, broadcasters, BDUs for continuous improvement of service and technology

Follow up: 

Follow up Questions, comments, suggestions? Paul Temple, Sr. VP Corporate Development Bus: (905) 566-9511 ext. 271 e-mail: ptemple@on.pelmorex.com or Luc Perreault, VP Communications et Affaires réglementaires Bus: (514) 597-1700 ext. 134 e-mail: lperreault@qc.pelmorex.com