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May 19, 2005

911 For Cell Phones

Web phones ordered to provide full 911

Regulators Thursday ordered Internet telephone carriers to provide full 911 emergency calling services to customers later this year, after hearing from people who were unable to get through during life-threatening crises.

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to require carriers to ensure that 911 calls from Internet phones will reach live emergency dispatchers instead of being connected to administrative lines. In addition, the carriers will have to provide callers' numbers and addresses.

The FCC approved the order at an open meeting attended by families who had trouble reaching 911 operators when they dialed for help with Internet phones.

This is good news. Of course I'm sure this will mean one more random charge on my cell phone bill that helps to practically double the contract price...

Posted by illuminaria at May 19, 2005 06:02 PM

Comments

It's very nearly a death sentence for VoIP. The technology may prevent such functionality. At best they'll need to invent a way and it will be non-trivial.

Posted by: Dave Schuler at May 20, 2005 10:24 AM