Demand For 'Every' VoIP Service To Be Able To Call 911 Resurfaces
from the i've-fallen-and-i-can't-get-up dept
A bill has been introduced in the Senate that would make it easier (via Broadband Reports) for some VoIP users to make 911 calls by forcing telcos and 911 call centers to accept calls from VoIP providers. Some call centers apparently refused to accept VoIP calls out of a fear of legal liability should a call fail, while some telcos that control 911 call centers weren't accepting connections from VoIP providers. If there's a good reason for them to do that -- beyond just trying to hinder the competition -- it hasn't been elucidated. However, in committee hearings, some people argued the law doesn't go far enough, and said that VoIP providers shouldn't be allowed to provide service if they can't connect 911 calls. This sort of proposal has been made before, and it's extremely problematic as more and more IP-based services offer the ability to communicate via voice. As Microsoft noted when the earlier proposal was floated, if it passed, it could mean they'd have to build the ability to dial 911 into products like the Xbox, Windows Live Messenger and LiveMeeting, all of which provide VoIP services. Taking such a step would be misguided, particularly when bigger problems persist -- like the fact that 40 percent of American counties don't support enhanced 911 calls from cell phones that give a caller's location. That's because the FCC has continually pushed back deadlines for mobile operators to support the service, while local authorities have spent money allocated for E911 upgrades on other things, like winter boots and ballpoint pens. Expanding the availability of 911 services to telephone-replacement VoIP services isn't a bad idea, but there are other, more glaring holes in the 911 system that need to be filled before we start worrying about making sure Xboxes can dial 911.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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I can't believe I am saying this, but...
One standard, one provider. No more headaches.
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No it doesn't. Just this 911-service (which should already be government owned). There should be one agency, which is branched out to the different locales.
We in NL already have just 1 (one) service that does 112 (our 911) (and branched out to local callcenters), and if you call them from a cellphone or such way, you get connected to the central callcenter, they will help you, and send the local emergency service, just like the more local offices do.
For the emergency-services there is no difference between a 112 call from the central location or from the local one.
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this is basically BS
um, yeah. whoever believes that story should enjoy the melon green sky in their world. that's a complete load of $*&@#.
the current FCC regs about voip and 911 state that you must provide 911 if you connect to the PSTN for incoming and outgoing calls. skype gets a pass as they separate products (incoming vs outgoing). similar "on-net" VoIP calls not hitting the PSTN would be excluded, so gaming based, IM, or other non traditional voice VoIP platforms would be exempt. there's not much gray area, national voice providers have been getting a free pass as far as I'm concerned, I've seen nothing in the way of enforcement.
disclosure, i work for a CLEC that provides business class VoIP service, we've been providing e911 (non-mobile) for 4+ years for VoIP based service. someone implying Voinage has been hindered from doing so? give me a break. they've been unwilling to spend the money to do so, and they've made it worse by selling mobile VoIP service. little sympathy from me.
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kelly is right
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Wasted Taxes
maybe we should expect more for our money than our officials having sex scandals...well I guess if we have movie stars we get drama instead of results....
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911
I do not support the idea that VOIP carriers need to offer or be mandated to make 911 tandem connetions. Most of us on VOIP could not care less about 911. I have it so I can get numbers in the UK or other US states and have people call at flat rates or free to me with a local number to them.
For emergencies I have S & W and a radio!
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Re: 911
of course it's the VOIP company's fault - all it takes is checking a damned database when somebody calls 911, looking at what area they are in, and then which actual phone number to reroute it to...
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Hell, I have a 6mb DSL and phone service and it's cheaper than any one cell phone with unlimited whatever from anybody. Nobody can beat that... at least not here. :)
Comcast here is a joke. Five years behind in the broadband services. Hell they can't even give you good TV at a reasonable price.
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strange thing is..
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