Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

What is VoIP?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is technology that allows people to place local and long-distance phone calls over the Internet. To make VoIP calls, a person must have a computer, Internet service (secured through an Internet service provider), and VoIP telephone service (secured through a VoIP provider).

FCC Mandates VoIP E 9-1-1 Service

After some highly publicized related to the failure of VoIP providers to deliver 9-1-1 calls to the correct PSAPs, the FCC has directed VoIP carriers to provide enhanced 9-1-1 service to all of their customers. On May 19, 2005, the FCC released Report and Order 05-116, which created rules, related to VoIP E9-1-1 service and established a deadline for implementation.

The FCC order states that all VoIP carriers are obligated to deploy E9-1-1 service to all PSAPS within 120 days of the effective date of the order.

Impact on VoIP Providers

AThe FCC Report and Order mandates that interconnected VoIP providers achieve the following:

• Provide E9-1-1 services as a standard feature of the service rather that as an optional enhancement.
• Provide E9-1-1 services from wherever the customer is using the service, whether at home or away from home.
• Deliver all 9-1-1 calls to the customer's local emergency operator.
• Provide emergency operators with the callback number and location information for the provider's VoIP customers who dial 9-1-1. Although the sustomer is responsible for entering his or her location informatio9n in the VoIP provider's database, the VoIP provider must give the customer a means of entering the information and updating it, whether he or she is at home or away from home. (Usually, the customer can use a PC to enter this information on a Web Site.)

By the effective date, interconnected VoIP providers must inform their customers, both new and existing, of the capabilities and limitations of the provider's E9-1-1 service. To learn more about VoIP regulations, go to www.nena9-1-1.org or www.von.org.