The FCC this week ordered VOIP (Voice over IP) service vendors to provide 911 service as a standard feature of their voice services within the next 4 to 6 months. Currently, several VOIP vendors do not provide what is considered a standard 911 service. Several states have legal actions against several VOIP vendors over this issue. Here in Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal is suing Vonage, a popular VOIP vendor.
Obviously, this is a good idea, although I'm not sure that the FCC has or should have the power to issue this type of order. The market itself will force this to happen. Similar to cell phone 911, there are issues with VOIP that make 911 more difficult to implement. Namely, cell phones and VOIP phones can be mobile. This makes location information difficult to track. I'm sure technology will solve the problem. VOIP carriers should have to provide useful 911 service. We have become dependent upon it.
The interesting thing is that standard voice carriers control the 911 services and have made it difficult for VOIP vendors to connect to them in a move to squash the competition. This ruling requires that they open the lines. Ironically, their monopoly practices have backfired on them.
I have been using VOIP for over a year. While there are still some problems with the technology, it is very much viable. The cost of the calls is drastically cheaper than standard phone service and the capabilities are fantastic. 911 service has been a problem. This order will correct that. Standard voice vendors are in for a tough time. VOIP is real and combined with wireless Internet, will eventually mean we don't need the SBC's of the world. I can't wait!
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