e911 Emergency Call
. The ability to access emergency services by dialing 911 is a vital component of public safety and emergency preparedness. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required Enhanced 911 on providers of VoIP services by issuing VoIP regulations, i.e., VoIP services that allow users to receive calls from and terminate calls to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including wireless phone networks. e911 systems automatically provide a 911 caller’s call back number and, in most cases, location information to emergency service personnel. Interconnected VoIP service allows you to make and receive calls to and from traditional phone numbers using a high-speed (broadband) Internet connection (i.e., DSL, cable modem or broadband wireless technology). It can be used in place of traditional phone service. Typically, interconnected VoIP technology works by either placing an adapter (like Linksys PAP2 Phone VoIP Adapter, Packet8 Broadband VoIP Adapter or the Zoom Voip Adapter) between a traditional phone and broadband connection, or by using a special VoIP phone that connects directly to your computer or Internet connection. While you may choose to use interconnected VoIP service from a single location, like a residence, some interconnected VoIP services can be used wherever you travel, as long as a broadband Internet connection is available. Companies offering interconnected VoIP service call it by a number of different brand names. Traditional phone services have generally associated a particular phone number with a fixed address. Portable interconnected VoIP services enable consumers to take their home or business phone service almost anywhere. Because certain interconnected VoIP services can be used from virtually any broadband connection, the location of the caller cannot automatically be determined. In the United States, when you call 911 from a traditional telephone, the call is sent to emergency service providers who are responsible for helping people in a particular geographic area or community. These emergency service providers often can automatically identify your location and direct the closest emergency personnel to that location. They also automatically identify your telephone number so that they can call you back if you are disconnected. Therefore, in the United States, all interconnected VoIP providers must automatically provide 911 services to all customers as a standard feature without customers having to specifically request this service. VoIP providers may not allow their customers to "opt-out" of 911 service. Before an interconnected VoIP service provider can activate a new customer’s service, the provider must obtain from the customer the physical location at which the service will first be used, so that emergency services personnel will be able to locate callers who dial 911. Interconnected VoIP providers must transmit all 911 calls, as well as a callback number and the caller’s registered physical location, to the emergency services call center or local emergency authority. More information about e911 services available HERE.
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