|
9-1-1
MAY NOT WORK FOR VoIP/Broadband Phones |
Concerns
About VoIP/Broadband Phones
A
VoIP/Broadband Phone WILL LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER TELEPHONE. Even if
the phone's owner understands the 9-1-1 issue, visitors or others
will expect the phone to provide them with access to E9-1-1 service
when they call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
The VoIP/Broadband Phone may
not be capable of placing a 9-1-1 call. The caller may
receive a "service not available" recording.
The VoIP/Broadband Phone 9-1-1
call may not route over the
dedicated 9-1-1 network. This call will compete with all
other calls in the public switched telephone network. VoIP/Broadband
9-1-1 calls are currently forwarded to a ten-digit number, which may
or may not be answered at a 9-1-1 center.
VoIP/Broadband Phone traffic
on today's internet can be slowed by viruses, worms, and other cyber
attacks. This could affect the ability of a VoIP/Broadband
call to get through the network to reach a 9-1-1 center.
VoIP/Broadband Phone 9-1-1
calls may not be answered with the same priority as other 9-1-1
calls. VoIP/Broadband phone calls that are received on
ten-digit telephone lines instead of the dedicated 9-1-1 network may
not be answered at the same priority as 9-1-1 calls
A
VoIP/Broadband Phone 9-1-1
call may not go to the correct 9-1-1 center. Wireline and
wireless 9-1-1 calls are routed to a 9-1-1 Center based on the
caller's location. A nationwide VoIP/Broadband network typically
will have only one access point to the public switched telephone
network, and the 9-1-1 call will then need to be routed to a 9-1-1
center anywhere in North America. There have been cases where VoIP/Broadband
9-1-1 calls have been routed several states away from the location
of the caller.
caller information may not
be displayed at the 9-1-1 Center for VoIP/Broadband Phone
9-1-1 calls.
There is a possibility that the caller's phone number and address
may not automatically display. The caller must be able to provide
their location before help can be sent.
For more information about Internet
Voice/VoIP see the Fact Sheet from the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC).
factsheet. (pdf file)
