Comments on: Vonage may route 911 call to Congress, FCC

The Net phone provider considers asking for help solving problems with SBC over subscriber access to the emergency network.

[martindawson]

There is now a standard

The news behind this story is that there is now a standard way for the VoIP providers to both route 911 calls and to have the location delivered to the PSAP.
While Vonage's comments are made for political reason - particularly given recent events in Texas - and are therefore understandable it is not true to say it is a standard if some other carriers have agreed to test to it. SBC are quite correct in not wanting to invest effort in implementing per-VoIPprovider solutions.

The standard was unveiled at last week's NENA TDC meeting San Jose. The National Emeregency Number Association has spent the last 12 months defining a specification for what is called the 'i2' architecture. This allows VoIP providers to obtain routing information based on the caller's location and defines the network entities that can store the location information for delivery to the PSAP. This reuses the same infrastructure that already exists for the same purpose in support of cellular 911 calls.

This is the solution that VoIP providers, LECs, and the rest of the emergency services industry should be focussing on delivering.

[martindawson]

There is now a standard

The news behind this story is that there is now a standard way for the VoIP providers to both route 911 calls and to have the location delivered to the PSAP.
While Vonage's comments are made for political reason - particularly given recent events in Texas - and are therefore understandable it is not true to say it is a standard if some other carriers have agreed to test to it. SBC are quite correct in not wanting to invest effort in implementing per-VoIPprovider solutions.

The standard was unveiled at last week's NENA TDC meeting San Jose. The National Emeregency Number Association has spent the last 12 months defining a specification for what is called the 'i2' architecture. This allows VoIP providers to obtain routing information based on the caller's location and defines the network entities that can store the location information for delivery to the PSAP. This reuses the same infrastructure that already exists for the same purpose in support of cellular 911 calls.

This is the solution that VoIP providers, LECs, and the rest of the emergency services industry should be focussing on delivering.

Emergency calls from old POTS line

Until Vonage fixes the 911 problem with the SBC I recommend taking a POTS phone and plugging it into an old landline. All lines are active for 911 calls. This is also a good idea to do anyways in case of a power outage. We have Vonage, and are concerned that 911 calls will not properly be routed so one phone port in our house is a designated emergency line.

[ntrlsur]

Not Really

All lines are not active with 911 service if you have dropped dial tone. If you get rid of your home line in order to recieve 911 service you still have to have dial tone. Which you can have at around 10 to 12 bucks amonth. To me it would be worth it to keep just a bare pots line around.

[joseealvarez]

A key point on getting Vonage is to save the cost of the POTS line

I got Vonage mostly to save on my telephone bills, specially in the international calls. I was paying $65/month which I just dropped to an apparent minimum of $35 after taxes(SBC). I would certainly like to just close the line but I may have to keep it for emergencies only.
It is pretty clear to me that SBC won't collaborate with Vonage so people have to do what I am doing and keep paying SBC just to have the emergency line.
I hope that the FCC forces them to open up.

Emergency calls from old POTS line

Until Vonage fixes the 911 problem with the SBC I recommend taking a POTS phone and plugging it into an old landline. All lines are active for 911 calls. This is also a good idea to do anyways in case of a power outage. We have Vonage, and are concerned that 911 calls will not properly be routed so one phone port in our house is a designated emergency line.

[ntrlsur]

Not Really

All lines are not active with 911 service if you have dropped dial tone. If you get rid of your home line in order to recieve 911 service you still have to have dial tone. Which you can have at around 10 to 12 bucks amonth. To me it would be worth it to keep just a bare pots line around.

[joseealvarez]

A key point on getting Vonage is to save the cost of the POTS line

I got Vonage mostly to save on my telephone bills, specially in the international calls. I was paying $65/month which I just dropped to an apparent minimum of $35 after taxes(SBC). I would certainly like to just close the line but I may have to keep it for emergencies only.
It is pretty clear to me that SBC won't collaborate with Vonage so people have to do what I am doing and keep paying SBC just to have the emergency line.
I hope that the FCC forces them to open up.