New legislation gives all VoIP subscribers access to standard 911 services

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June 25th, 2008 - Posted by Joe

VoIP subscribers will now have the same level of access to the country's 911 emergency calling system as standard landlines thanks to new legislation sponsored by United States Representative Bart Gordon. The bill, H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, was passed earlier this week and is expected to be signed into law by President George Bush by the end of the month.

There is currently a two class system when it comes to access to the nations 911 infrastructure. Standard telephone services and wireless providers typically have full access to traditional 911 systems that route calls to the nearest geographic emergency services call center. VoIP providers have traditionally been kept outside of that system. A call to 911 on a VoIP line will typically be routed first to a call center operated by the VoIP provider who will then route it to emergency services operators located nearest to the location of the caller.

The bill will eliminate this two class system and give all Americans, whether they are on a VoIP line, standard telephone line or wireless connection, the same access to emergency services. According to Gordon:

"When Americans dial 911 in an emergency, they expect the call will go through, regardless of what phone they use. That's why Congress acted to ensure all Americans had access to 911 services on their wireless phones, and it's why we're acting now to ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving 911 services on their VOIP phones and other new technologies."

Gordon's legislation makes provisions to afford the same level of access to all future forms of communication that may be mandated to grant users with emergency services access as well as existing enhanced service used by the elderly and disabled.

"This ensures consumers don't compromise their safety when they use new technologies like car-based 911 services and video and text services used by people with disabilities," said Gordon.

The New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 also opens the door for vast improvements in the existing 911 system which would be based on the same technology that enables VoIP calling.

"Our 911 system uses 30-year-old technology and is simply outdated," said Gordon. "National emergencies like September 11 and Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed the 911 system and highlight why a strong IP-based system must be a priority."

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