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VoIP Providers Given 120 Days to Provide 911 Service

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the in-the-event-of-an-emergency dept.

linuxwrangler writes "According to this SFGate article, federal regulators have given VoIP providers 120 days to provide 911 service to their customers. The vote came after testimony from people including a Florida woman who had her infant die after being unable to call 911 from her internet phone. VoIP providers are also required to notify their customers of the deadline and of the limitations of VoIP 911 service."

6 of 626 comments (clear)

  1. Different point of view by schwep · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    She made her own choice. It is no different than buying a Geo Metro & suing GM for damages when a semi-truck destroys the car in a crash.

    Don't punish me because of other people's choices. Why should I have to pay more for VoIP when I have a cell phone that works for 911? I should have the choice.

  2. Re:120 days.... by Oligonicella · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Alternatively, during the time it takes to develop said technologies, the caller always has the option of telling the 911 dispatcher where they are. Any telephone-like communications device should provide access to emergency personell.

    Sometimes -- like recently in Nebraska -- having communication only means others know you're about to die. Tuff. Life ain't meant to be nice, only there.

  3. Re:120 days.... by Vexar · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    This is all about revenue, not service; think about it, when was the last time you dialed 911? 100 Million households paying at least $25 a year for 911 service (my bill has about $2 a month on it for that of about 7 upcharges), not to mention all the corporate telephones and payphones, 911 is minimally a 2.5 Billion Dollar industry. They start losing revenue, and they start searching for where it went. Why the article wasn't written from the perspective is beyond me.

    Call me a sick-o, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this story about the woman from Florida is a falsification on some levels, I would like proof that she has no access to a cellular phone, that she is too far to a payphone, and has no neighbors nor passers-by on her street. Come on, this just smells like a set-up!

  4. Re:120 days.... by zerbot · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    And if someone who isn't aware of all those things somehow needs to use the phone, then what?

  5. Re:120 days.... by metlin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    What crap. Do you even know what you're talking about?

    It is not the responsibility of the end-user to know the limitations of such a system - if you are pretending to be a regular service, then you'd better provide the capabilities of one.

    Especially something like 911.

    I'm surprised they gave 120 days, if I'd been in their position, I'd have given them 30 days and fined for every delay. If they can't do it in 60, kill the damn company.

    You're a freakin' troll.

  6. dead batteries = active penes by RIAA+Bounty+Hunter · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Know what? I hope nobody'll be unable to reach 911 when somebody (like me) rapes you or that michrech guy anally.

    Hmmm... sounds like a great Hentai game.