FCC includes location-tracking in VoIP plan
Looks like the U.S. government is trying to eliminate one more piece of info that you probably thought was private: your location when you're making a VoIP call. As previously stated by FCC chairman Kevin Martin, the FCC's proposed VoIP regs include a helpful suggestion that any VoIP equipment be able to "automatically identify the location" of callers. Proposed methods include requiring mobile VoIP phones to include GPS units. As pointed out by News.com's Declan McCullagh, the proposals are ostensibly meant to make it easier for VoIP callers to use e911 services. However, with mobile VoIP and VoWLAN solutions now coming to market, the situation gets stickier. What if you don't want e911 on your VoIP phone? What if you'd just rather keep your location to yourself? For now, you can let the FCC know; the comment period on the proposal is still open. After next Monday, though, your only solution may be to use an unregulated handset, for which there will no doubt be a thriving gray market.
