May 19, 2005
As expected, the Federal Communications Commission has issued a rule requiring Internet telephone providers to supply enhanced 911 (E911) emergency calling service to their customers. At least three states have taken legal action against Vonage, the largest VoIP provider, charging it did not adequately disclose the limitations of its 911 service.
The FCC's order applies to VoIP providers who provide their users with a standard telephone number. It does not apply to other IP-based services -- including instant messaging, gaming or voice services -- that are not connected to the public telephone network.
Under the order:
• Interconnected VoIP providers must deliver all 911 calls to the customer's local emergency operator. This must be a standard, rather than optional, feature of the service.• Interconnected VoIP providers must provide emergency operators with the call back number and location information of their customers (i.e., E911) where the emergency operator is capable of receiving it. Although the customer must provide the location information, the VoIP provider must provide the customer a means of updating this information, whether he or she is at home or away from home. • By the effective date, interconnected VoIP providers must inform their customers, both new and existing, of the E911 capabilities and limitations of their service. • The incumbent local exchange carriers are required to provide access to their E911 networks to any requesting telecommunications carrier. They must continue to provide access to trunks, selective routers, and E911 databases to competing carriers.
Interconnected VoIP providers must comply with these requirements, and submit to the Commission a letter detailing such compliance, no later than 120 days after the effective date of the Order. The actual effective date will be sometime this fall, as the order does not become fully effective until a public comment period expires.
