Providers of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service have been told by the FCC to warn customers of potential problems of using 911 as an emergency number. The FCC told providers they should obtain acknowledgements from their subscribers and if they didn't, then they should turn off their service.

The VON coalition, a group of VoIP providers which include AT&T and MCI, were concerned of what would happen to their customers if they were cut off. Some portion of the subscribers typically won't respond to a request. Is it in the public's best interest to disconnect these people?

There are about 1.7 million VoIP subscribers nationwide and this cut off from the FCC could have potentially disrupted service for 100,000 people. The FCC issued this decree in May after a woman was unable to get 911 help to save her dying daughter.

The FCC ordered all the providers to have full 911 service by November 28th.

Here's the quote from the FCC: Specifically, the Bureau announces that it will continue to refrain, for an additional 30 days -- until September 28, 2005 -- from enforcing the requirement that VoIP providers obtain affirmative acknowledgements from 100% of their subscribers that they have read and understood an advisory concerning the limitations of their E911 service against those providers that meet the reporting requirements established below. In addition to satisfying these reporting requirements, to be eligible for this extension, providers also must have filed a report on or before August 10, 2005 in accordance with the Bureau's July 26, 2005 Public Notice. The Bureau will evaluate the sufficiency of the updated reports filed by interconnected VoIP providers and take subsequent action as necessary. If you don't get anything from this article but this: Post all your local emergency phone numbers by your phone. Do it today. Emergencies aren't scheduled.
About the Author

Stuart Simpson
http://www.voip-telephony-review.com

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to VoIP... Your Regular Telephone Line Or VoIP Phone Service? A mother from Miami, Florida has a son who is currently studying for his business administration degree at the University of North Carolina. She usually communicates to her son through their regular home telephone line. Although she is willing to spend money just to check on her son at the university, she is now complaining about the high rates that the local Miami telephone company is imposing on long distance voice calls. Instead of communicating with her son regularly, she manages now to call twice in a month to save her money. If you are just like that mother who wants to have a regular communication with her son but having a hard time budgeting her telephone bills, then VOIP phone service is the right one for you. What is with the VOIP that will help you gain more savings? To start with, let us differentiate this new phone service from your regular telephone line. The traditional landline phone you are currently using can be operated through the Public Switched...

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