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FCC to Push VoIP 911 Requirements

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the this-can-only-work-badly dept.

maotx writes "Originaly declared a regulation free area, VoIP is going under a new look. With complaints against it, the FCC has decided to move forward with its original plan to require VoIP providers to provide 911 support. This brings up interesting questions on how they're going to know where in the world your VoIP enabled laptop is when you call 911."

4 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. GPS by Leroy+Brown · · Score: 4, Interesting

    With the universal adoption of GPS, it wouldn't be hard to put a GPS receiver on a USB key-fob and relay the information in some standardized fashion.

    It's being bundled into cell phones these days for the same purpose.

    Just don't bundle it into the computer itself, or the conspiracy theorists may become the conspiracy realists. ;)

  2. Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, what about when you use your VoIP through a VPN that is piggy backing off the business next door's wireless?

  3. No location requirment by plilja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If they follow the original proposal, there will not be a location requirement for 911, just a requirement for 911 connectivity. That is, if you dial 911 on a VoIP phone you will get a 911 operator...but you will still need to tell that operator your location. Some VoIP vendors may impliment a primary residence that gets displayed to 911 operators, but this would be optional. Currently if you dial 911 on a VoIP phone, you will only get a 911 operator if your VoIP vendor has implimented the feature voluntarily.

  4. VoIP e911 works for me by chrispix · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have Verizon Fios internet service, along with Sunrocket VoIP service. I was quite interested in finding out if 911 even connected me to the right place, as several people said it did not work w/ VoIP providers. So I called the non-emergency number in Rowlett, Tx. They answered my call, and I let them know I was going to test my 911 service as I had a new phone provider. I hung up, dialed 911. It took maybe 3-4 seconds to get a ring tone, and the emergency operator in Rowlett, picked up the phone, and asked what my emergency was. I told her that I just called the non-emergency number, and was testing 911. She then informed me my name, and my address came thru with the call. So looks like I don't have anything to worry about. :) Also make sure if you are testing your 911, you call the non-emergency number first, although you never know where you might wind up.