[asterisk-biz] New E911 Bill Will Try to become Law

[Michael Young]

Actually, I think you missed the main point: "The Clinton-Snowe-Nelson
bill will allow VoIP companies to patch into the 911 networks operated
by the traditional phone companies."

According to the VON Coalition, the legislation will give VoIP companies
direct access to E911 networks within 120 days, and provides equivalent
liability protection for VoIP providers as other phone services have.

That, my friends, is a big deal.

Michael Young
NetLogic

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-biz-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-biz-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Matt
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:47 PM
To: Commercial and Business-Oriented Asterisk Discussion
Subject: Re: [asterisk-biz] New E911 Bill Will Try to become Law

How is this new?  We've had to be 911 compliant since last year!
Nothing new.. move along folks.

On 1/31/07, TV Guy <macpissed at gmail.com> wrote:
> Nelson, Clinton, Snowe REIntroduce Voice Over Internet E-911
Legislation
>
> Bill Will Prevent Tragedies By Making Sure Calls for Help Made On
> Internet-Based Telephone Service Connect to Local 911
>
> Washington, DC - Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL); Senator Hillary Rodham
> Clinton (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Congressional E-911 Caucus and Senator
> Olympia Snowe (R-ME) today announced that they have reintroduced the
> IP Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act.  The bill
> addresses the need to ensure the growing number of Voice Over Internet
> Protocol (VoIP) telephone service subscribers have full access to 911,
> including Enhanced (E)-911 capability that allows 911 dispatchers to
> trace the phone number and location of calls for help.
>
> Unfortunately, we ve seen the tragic consequences when consumers can t
> connect to 911 services through their Internet phone company,  Senator
> Nelson said.  VoIP subscribers should feel confident that they will
> have access to emergency services it could be a matter of life or
> death.
>
> It is critical that the millions of households using this technology
> can reach 911 when tragedy strikes.  All emergency calls, whether made
> on a land line, cell phone or Internet-based phone service, need a
> rapid response.  It could truly make the difference in saving a life,
> said Senator Clinton.
>
> The inability of the emergency response network to keep pace with
> voice over Internet protocol technology has left millions of VoIP
> subscribers without guaranteed access to emergency services, Senator
> Snowe said.  Innovation and technological advances should improve the
> lives of Americans, not endanger them.  VoIP subscribers should not be
> susceptible to substandard emergency service simply because they are
> on the cutting edge of in home telecommunications technology.
>
> VoIP telephone customers are connected to broadband internet lines
> instead of traditional phone lines.  Ensuring that 911 calls made from
> VoIP phones are properly routed and responded to has presented new
> challenges to public safety officials.  There have been several
> tragedies in which VoIP 911 calls were either routed to closed
> business offices instead of emergency dispatcher or could not be
> connected.
>
> The Clinton-Snowe-Nelson bill will allow VoIP companies to patch into
> the 911 networks operated by the traditional phone companies. The bill
> also ensures that consumers are fully informed if their VoIP provider
> cannot ensure that their 911 call will be properly routed in an
> emergency.  Furthermore, the legislation tasks the National E-911
> Implementation Coordination Office -- created under the ENHANCE Act
> introduced by Senator Clinton and signed into law in 2004 -- to
> develop a plan for a nationwide network and make recommendations to
> Congress in order to ensure that all 911 VoIP calls are responded to
> properly.
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