[Asterisk-Users] 911 emergency service and VoIP

[John Fraizer]

Kevin P. Fleming wrote:

> Andrew Kohlsmith wrote:
> 
>> Do you have information on how to do this?  This is *precisely* what I 
>> want to do.  I assumed you set this up with your telco and then set 
>> the caller ID to the # matching the address you wanted, leaving the 
>> telco to do the address match.
> 
> 
> In discussions with my telco, they are very unwilling to do this, 
> because they don't want to be responsible for making these database 
> changes (too much liability involved). Just imagine what would happen if 
> you move a phone, mandating an ALI update for the associated DID number, 
> send that update request to the telco, and it takes them 24 hours to 
> make the change, during which time that phone is used to call 911 and 
> help is dispatched to the wrong location :-( If the situation was 
> life-threatening, someone could die. They don't want to be even remotely 
> responsible for that.
> 
> In the normal case, they set up the ALI information _once_ when you 
> order your service, and make changes only when you physically move 
> services. PS/ALI pushes the ALI update burden onto you, which is where 
> it belongs. You can then deal with the liability issues with your 
> customers, and the telco is out of the loop (no pun intended).

Your telco really can't *prevent* you from doing PS/ALI.  They don't 
have to make it easy though.  Even with PS/ALI, the same database is 
updated.  It's just you doing the update vs the telco doing it.  Doing 
things the "Right Way" TM isn't always easy but, in the end, it is going 
to be the best.  Getting set up to do PS/ALI isn't free either but, when 
you can tell your customers that they will have E911 service vs simple 
911 -> non-emergency number mapping, it gives you a sales advantage.  If 
your telco doesn't want to (1) Update the ALI records as you request or 
(2) Provide you with a PS/ALI mechanism, I suggest that you get your 
public utilities commission involved in the loop.


John