By Sharla Sikes

The Senate recently approved a bill requiring VoIP providers to ensure 911 access to customers. S428, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act, gives VoIP interconnection access just like the traditional phone companies have—making sure that 911 calls made over VoIP lines will reach a live operator every time.

In the past, VoIP users have not always had guaranteed 911 access. Sometimes calls were routed to unmanned police stations, or connections failed. After “unfortunate incidents,”  the Federal Communications Commission ruled in 2005 that VoIP providers must give customers 911 access.

S428 is a formality, making the FCC’s decision into law.

“Congress has been working on this legislation for several years and I am pleased to see that it has cleared the Senate,” Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, said in a statement. “This important legislation will ensure that our 911 laws are up to date with new technologies.”

Two amendments to the bill give the FCC authority to adapt 911 requirements into new phone services in the future, and begin a study on “next-generation 911 capabilities.”

A similar bill passed in the House in October 2007, and will now merge with S428, where it will go to the White House for President Bush’s signature. The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee stated that a compromise shouldn’t present any difficulties.

“S. 428 is very similar to H.R. 3403 [and] I am confident that we can resolve the minor differences between the House and Senate legislation in short order and present a final measure to the president,” Rep. John Dingell said in a statement.

The bill was supported by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association in a letter to House and Senate leaders to voice its support for the Senate bill. NCTA president and CEO Kyle McSlarrow called the bill “critical to ensure that VoIP providers have access to the components necessary to provide 911 and e911 services on the same terms and conditions and with the same protections afforded to all providers of voice service.”

Doubts about emergency calls may have kept consumers from opting for VoIP services, a worry that the bill will help to dispel.

Related Content

Subscribe to the post comments feeds or Leave a trackback