VoIP E911 to take years, not 120 days

Posts: 292 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Oct 08, 2004 Posts: 292

Former FCC wireless E911 chief:
Voip E911 to take years, not 120 days
-Posted by Russell Shaw @ 7:36 am

General Regulatory News E911
As head of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau in the mid 1990s, John Muleta oversaw the mandated requirement that cell carriers ensure access to 911 emergency services.

Now an attorney in private practice with Washington, D.C.-based Venable LLP, Muleta looks upon today’s expected FCC mandatory Voip E911 ruling as leading to a process that won’t be easy.

"As I saw when (the FCC) enabled 911 operability to cellphones, and as we will see in the coming months, there are a number of steep hurdles that both the government and industry must face," he says in a statement.

"The cost will be considerable, and could in the end prove insurmountable for new carriers," he adds.

Nor does Muleta think the process will take months. He says years.

"Perhaps more importantly, there are significant complications involved in integrating these non-landline based phone services with the public safety answering points," Muleta points out. "It took a number of years, and cost a significant amount of money before wireless companies were able to overcome these problems.

"VoIP companies can expect similar difficulties."

I’ve been framing the same argument? Do you agree? Will all of this get done in 120 days? TalkBack to us and let us know.
-Posted by Russell Shaw @ 7:36 am

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2005 Posts: 2

Well it may take actual less. Today I read in some news outlet that Vonage bought SBC and another company E911 segment. So you will see that coming pretty fast but small players will loose in the game. In another words some will loose their jobs. It is bad for the small plyers but this will clear the war over 911. I've been reading this forums and I'm upset that many people did not read the fine print in the "terms of use" with Vonage. It is laid out there that 911 is not the same as the regular phone lines, then lets sue the phone company.
Once I find the article I'll post it here

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2005 Posts: 2

Enjoy
http://www.vonage-forum.com/article1843.html

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 26, 2005 Posts: 9

Here's an interesting question (to me, anyway). I deliberately did NOT activate 911 on my Vonage line, because I got it for traveling exclusively. When I DO work from home, I have the landline there. Now, since I am in Greenville SC this week, will I get Greenville's E(11 center or Dayton, Ohio (the homeland) E911?

Posts: 318 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 9:57 am Post subject:

I think Radioman has a point. Has it been clarified whether E911 is supposed to work the way Voip providers work it today (ie, tie it to a billing address) or is it supposed to work the way cell phone E911 works (ie, tied to your specific location).

If it's the former, it would be fairly easy to operate (esp. since Vonage has nearly all the major RBOC's permission). If the latter, it would take some new technology and could easily take years (and some fees tacked onto our bills to pay the R&D related costs).

Posts: 281 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:30 am Post subject:

I'm not sure what the big issue is here... yes when you have your PRIMARY number in an area where you aren't there is an issue..

We are starting a Voip division where I work shortly and we will require, as SunRocket does, that your primary number be in the place where you live. We will also be running 9-1-1 calls out over PRIs which connect to the local Tandem which in turn will direct calls to the 9-1-1 center over the 9-1-1 trunks... problem solved.. .ANI and ALI delivered... what's the issue here? If you want a second number elsewhere we'll give it to you... ok now you have your 2 numbers.. E-9-1-1 and VoIP....

Posts: 318 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:57 am Post subject:

Quote:

problem solved.. .ANI and ALI delivered... what's the issue here? If you want a second number elsewhere we'll give it to you... ok now you have your 2 numbers.. E-9-1-1 and VoIP....

What if I want my primary number to be a Los Angeles number, while I live in New York? I want E911 calls routed to the applicable New York office. Also, when I go on my business trips to Atlanta, I will need the E911 forwarding to somehow "know" my new location, and allow E911 calls placed in Atlanta from my LA number to be forwarded to the appropriate Atlanta office.

Posts: 281 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

This isn't much different (what I'm proposing) then what SunRocket says:

Quote:

What happens to my Emergency Dialing service if I travel or move with my gizmo?

1. SunRocket service is portable to any location with broadband Internet access. If you travel, you can take your gizmo (adapter) with you and your phone will work in any location with broadband Internet access. However, do NOT dial 911 whenever using the gizmo in a location other than the service address associated with your SunRocket account, since emergency service will not be properly rendered.
2. If you move or intend to use your SunRocket service away from home, you must update your new location in order for 911 to function properly. Call SunRocket Member Services at 1-800-786-0132 to make a change to your home address.

Posts: 216 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject:

I can see the law suits now...

"Nobody told me I had to update my address in order to have my 911 work correctly. I never had to do that with my old phone."

I guess we need GPS enabled Voip, huh. Very Happy

Posts: 281 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 12:28 pm Post subject:

I can see the lawsuit now..

Code:

No body told me I couldn't have the Voip device in the basement or the GPS unit wouldn't work!

Point being... this is like taking your car to the gas station.. putting kerosene into it because.. well anything that comes out of what looks like a gas pump must be gas.. and then wondering why your car breaks down and then trying to sue the gas station....

Sorry, it may look like a phone, but it's NOT POTS!