WASHINGTON-After hearing emotional presentations from users who have been unsuccessfully able to connect to 911 from Voice over Internet Protocol phones, the Federal Communications Commission Thursday adopted rules requiring VoIP providers to offer direct access to 911 services within about 165 days.
“VoIP providers must deliver all 911 calls to the customers’ local emergency operator. This must be a standard rather than optional feature of the service,” said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
While incumbent local exchange carriers are required to offer access to the 911 network to other telecommunications carriers, ILECs are not required to offer access to VoIP providers that consider themselves to be information services. Therefore, these VoIP providers must find their own way into compliance.
“VoIP providers may interconnect directly with the ILECs’ 911 network or purchase access to this network from competitive carriers or third-party providers,” said Martin, noting he was encouraged that Bell operating companies offer access to 911 to VoIP carriers.
Current VoIP customers are to be warned about 911 service limitations, said FCC Commission Kathleen Abernathy. “Just as important, it will safeguard consumers in the interim prior to full implementation by requiring all VoIP providers to affirmatively warn consumers of current limitations in E911 capability,” said Abernathy.
Separately on Capitol Hill, legislation was introduced Wednesday to fill in some of the rules gaps for VoIP 911.
