FCC mandates 911 access for VoIP
posted May 18th 2005 11:55AM
You know it's American government hard at work when it's only way after the fact that we see results on some mission critical biz—just as all the Bells are starting to open up their 911 networks to VoIP providers is the FCC stepping in to require VoIP to have 911 access for all its customers. It's kind of chicken and egg though, because while we're 100% sure there isn't a VoIP phone service provider around that wouldn't jump at the chance to offer proper 911 services, it's up to the networks to grant it to them. Either way, the FCC is giving 'em all 120 days to sort it out and get those people 911—so we're sure to see some massive corporate gouging going on while the Bells wring the VoIP providers for all they're worth. Which will all peter out just as the FCC mandates that all the Bells open themselves up, of course. What a racket.
Yup.. That's it.. Now we're screwed. Now the gov can call them actual telephone networks and the money we were saving by not paying taxes will be gone. Expect two more charges on your voip bill...
VOIP needs 911 to succeed.
I've had it for two years now -- and almost lost my wife and house to an electrical fire.
Thankfully, my neighbors aren't on the cutting edge of technology and they picked up their POTS phone and got the fire department to my house.
When I called 911 using VOIP? The county dispatcher that I got had no idea why I would be calling him ... and couldn't connect me to my city's emergency dispatch.
If it takes a small fee to open up a cheaper, more efficient technology to more people -- do it.
hey Dan, now you know the hard way that saving money is a BAD idea! use a cell!
the issue i see is now the gov has them by the balls. this in turns gives the networks the upperhand to charge whatever they want to grant access. who's to say they completely block it, or want to charge an insane amount in order to cripple voip.
Ooooh, look at that, the government actually did something remotely in the interest of its citizens...