On July 15, 2025 The CRTC launched Telecom and Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-180 which is titled Call for comments – Improving the public alerting system – Public record: 1011-NOC2025-0180
This proceeding was established to consider targeted improvements to public alerting. Specifically, the Commission looked for comments in the following areas:
- reviewing the accessibility of the system for persons with disabilities
- facilitating the dissemination of alerts in both official languages
- exploring the expansion of the system to include Indigenous and additional languages
- addressing potential wireless public alerting gaps across the country
- reviewing the existing public alerting test schedule
- determining improved methods for the Commission to monitor and validate that Last Mile Distributors (LMDs) are meeting their public alerting requirements
DWCC felt that participating in this proceeding had great importance to address accessibility barriers for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) Canadians and to support equitable access for all communities by improving the overall accessibility of the National Public Alerting System (NPAS).
The DWCC are also engaging because of the Commission’s focus on expanding alerts into additional languages, including Indigenous languages and Indigenous sign languages (ISL). For us, additional languages also include ASL and LSQ, ensuring that Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities are fully considered in accessibility planning. The goal is reliable delivery, plain language, and equitable access across all official and additional languages, including Indigenous languages where appropriate.
DWCC’s participation focuses on ensuring that alerting practices fully include DDBHH communities through accessible formats such as ASL and LSQ videos, visual infographics, and emoji-based alerts. These formats provide clear, ready-to-understand messaging for people whose first language is not English or French, such as immigrants, as well as for Deaf individuals.
DWCC thanks the core writing and analysis team. The success of the survey reports would not be possible without the hard-working Community Connectors across the country who helped push the survey numbers to a record-breaking 1,300+.
Below are all DWCC documents filed for this proceeding, available here in PDF format. DWCC submitted 11 papers, with some also in accessible formats for DeafBlind users (MS Word or PowerPoint). For accessible or French versions, please contact us at regulatory@deafwireless.ca.
DWCC Submissions and Materials
- DWCC Intervention – [click here]
- DWCC Interview Report – No One Left Behind [click here]
- DWCC Deaf and Hard of Hearing Public Alerting Survey Analysis Report – [click here]
- Appendix A, B & C for DHH Survey Analysis Report – [click here]
- DWCC DeafBlind Survey Analysis Report – Missed Connections to Clear Signals [click here]
- DWCC Supplementary Appendix Infographics for both DHH and DB Survey Analysis Report – [click here]
The Commission extended deadlines, and more document work will be submitted by DWCC as follows, after the deadlines set in CRTC 2025-180-1 - DWCC Reply Comments
[Insert PDF link] Will be posted after December 19, 2025 - DWCC Final Comments
[Insert PDF link] Will be posted after January 28, 2026
Procedural Documents
