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Selecting the right VoIP provider or broadband phone provider can be
a life or death decision when it comes to 911 service. Some VoIP
companies provide better 911 service than others and some provide none
at all. Read up about this crucial issue before you select a VoIP
provider (broadband phone provider). This does not apply to pure PC to
Phone providers, such as Skype.
911 VOIP ServiceWhen choosing which VOIP provider to go with, or even whether or not to get a VOIP service, one of the major criteria should be the availability of the 911service. This is especially important for the US. Some VOIP providers currently offer no 911 service at all, however the FCC has ruled that towards the end of 2005 all VOIP providers in the US have to comply to the their recent ruling (05/19/2005) that all US VOIP providers must offer their customers the 911 service. If you are considering replacing your traditional phone line with a VOIP line, the 911 service is an essential component to your VOIP telephone service, for obvious reasons.
In the US there are currently two levels of 911 service that VOIP service providers could offer. There is the E911 service and the "10-digit routing technique" 911
service. Enhanced 911 Service E911 service stands for Enhanced 911
service and is what traditional telephone companies currently provide.
E911 service gives your local dispatch center or PSAP (Public Safety
Answering Point) your name and address automatically when you dial 911.
This service can be vital if the caller is unable to speak due to the
nature of the emergency.
When signing up for a new VOIP service that offers E911 service, the customer
must provide their permanent address to the service provider. This
information is then automatically forwarded to the PSAP when the
customer calls 911. Although you can transport your VOIP equipment for
use in other locations, E911 service is only available from the address
on file with the VOIP provider. Thus, a customer who transports their
VOIP equipment to another location must update their address
information with their VOIP provider, before they can use 911 service. The "10-Digit Routing Technique"The "10-digit routing technique" for 911 service is what the majority of VOIP companies currently provide. Although this level of service is better than no 911 service, it is certainly no substitute for E911 service. This method uses routing tables to convert a customer’s 911 call into the 10-digit phone number that, in theory, is for the closest emergency dispatch center. With this service, you rely on your VOIP provider to route the emergency call to the correct dispatch center. The risk with this service is that some VOIP providers have been known route the calls to PSAPs which are not closest to the caller’s location or even to non-emergency lines. Additionally, the caller must tell the dispatch center their name and address when they call. Reliability ConcernsAnyone considering replacing their traditional phone line with a VOIP line should consider only VOIP providers with E911 service for safety reasons. If you are getting a VOIP line as a second line, “10-digit routing technique” 911 service may be acceptable. Both of these methods for providing 911 service require two things to function however: a broadband Internet connection and electricity. With a VOIP telephone line your phone service is only as reliable as your Internet connection and the power to your home. In the event that your broadband connection goes down, perhaps due to maintenance or upgrades at your ISP (Internet Service Provider), you will have no telephone service, and thus no 911 service. You will also have no 911 service in the event of a power outage. These factors may be unacceptable to some individuals considering replacing their traditional phone line but may be acceptable if they are considering VOIP for a second line. Some VOIP service providers offer equipment that can place calls on the traditional phone network (PSTN) in the event of a power or broadband outage. This is the most reliable solution for an individual wanting to replace their traditional phone line with a VOIP line. |
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