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FCC: VoIP Providers Must Provide 911 Services
acadiel writes "The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the FCC will require VoIP providers to provide 911 location services. This will mean extra $$$ that the VoIP providers will have to put out, which ultimately means extra $$$ that the consumer will have to put out. This is the first step in regulating an industry that should have been left alone..." I hope network end-points and physical location aren't going to be too tightly linked; one of the appeals of VoIP is using it from anywhere that has an adequate Internet connection.
I am being serious here mod me down if neccesary, BUT WHAT IN GODS NAME is the use of this.
Hold on Im getting mugged/raped/murdered OH but first let me log on to my computer to dial 911
WTF ?
Is our goverment really THIS out of touch or is this a concession to big money telcom interests ?
When is the government going to learn to leave the internet alone. I am so fsking tired of little leaching taxes on everything. Theres no guarantee that everone gets 911. Leave us alone.
"Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
Nobody will take you seriously if you keep called a PSTN system POTS.
It's PSTN and you know it.
DUMBASS.
Yes, exactly. This is another example of the government trying to regulate an industry and screwing up the Free Market TM. Also known as statism, fascism and communism. The invisible hand always strikes back, likely in companies moving off shore, and price increases. For more info read Ayn Rand
That's not how it works, you clueless fuck. Go fuck a goat or read the article or something.
Take a look over in the corner. See that big clue stick laying there? Pick it up and smack yourself upside the head a few times.
Now, go reread the top level post. Got it yet? Here, I'll help you out. "...the FCC will require VoIP providers to provide 911 location services..." No, still don't get it? OK, how about I help you out a bit more. "...the FCC will require VoIP providers to provide 911 location services.
Any light bulbs coming on yet? When you dial 911, the system automatically gives the emergency operator your address. The VoIP provider will have to, first, tie the number to a physical location, and, second, install equipment which provides that location's address to the 911 service. While Vonage might route your 911 call to the appropriate emergency center, I'll lay dollars to donuts that they don't provide location service.
God knows what happens if I dial 911 from my laptop, which is connected to a wireless hot spot at a Starbucks that's 50 miles from my home where I'm using a VPN tunnel to connect to my home network.
1. Use the excuse of mandatory ability to _physically_ locate a 911 caller to get the camels' nose of control/regulation of the web under the tent.
2. Roll out Trusted Computing/NGSCB as a partial solution, with increased regulations.
3. Incrementally increase regulation and TC/NGSB until the web is mostly a media/consumer consumption apparatus, as well as a security tool to track/control populations.
4. POWER/PROFIT!