WASHINGTON-New FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants access to 911 when using Voice over Internet Protocol to be an agenda item at the Federal Communications Commission meeting in May, Martin told lawmakers during a budget hearing Tuesday.
“I immediately asked our staff to develop a plan on this,” said Martin. “I want to do it by May.”
Martin was responding to a blistering set of questions from Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
“Is there some way the FCC can warn customers about Vonage to not use Vonage?” Kirk demanded of Martin.
Martin said the FCC was limited in its authority to regulate marketing, but because the commission had said VoIP was an interstate service and thus under federal jurisdiction, it was up to the FCC to do something.
Kirk became aware of the situation after hearing about a test conducted by the Libertyville, Ill., Fire Department. The Libertyville test was described in a press statement released by Kirk’s office following his questioning of Martin.
“Coordinating a test, the fire department instructed a resident that uses Vonage to dial 911. After four rings, a Vonage operator answered the call. After a prolonged conversation which required the active participation of the caller, Vonage transferred the call to a non-911, 10-digit telephone line in Libertyville’s 911 Communication Center. The process took over four minutes and only information exchanged verbally could be shared. Libertyville Fire Department proceeded to make a 911 call from a ‘normal’ telephone line. It was received by the call center in nine seconds over the 911 trunk lines that automatically include the caller’s telephone number and location on the 911 terminal, which is immediately forwarded to responding emergency units,” reads Kirk’s release.
Martin said he became concerned about Vonage Holding Corp.’s VoIP service after hearing about a Houston incident where two parents were shot when their daughter could not dial 911 from their home phone because they had switched their service to Vonage. This incident prompted the Texas attorney general to sue Vonage for deceptive advertising.
Voicemail and e-mail requests to Vonage for comment have not been returned.
