FCC Continues Pushing 911 Service for VOIP

In May 2005, the FCC adopted rules that respond to the threat that such misunderstandings pose to public safety. The FCC adopted rules requiring providers of interconnected VoIP services to supply 911 emergency calling capabilities to their customers as a mandatory feature of the service by November 28, 2005. "Interconnected" VoIP services are VoIP services that allow a user generally to receive calls from and make calls to the traditional telephone network. Under the FCC rules, interconnected VoIP providers must:

--- Deliver all 911 calls to the local emergency call center;

--- Deliver the customer’s call back number and location information where the emergency call center is capable of receiving it; and

--- Inform their customers of the capabilities and limitations of their VoIP 911 service.

The United States Distict Court of Appeals denied a motion this week that would have delayed these regulations from being put in place. Consumer Help Web reported on this issue in March when Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed suit against Internet company Vonage for failing to disclose that the service did not exist.

posted by Consumer Help Web Editorial Team at 9:59 PM |