Tech ArticlesOne of the few places where the FCC and geeks seem to find common ground is the proliferation of Internet-based phone services. Unfortunately, issues with 911 services on VOIP phones have continued to be a problem but the FCC has said it will not cut off users lacking "enhanced" 911 services.
Enhanced 911 not only supports the 3-digit dialing code (which was an early VOIP issue in its own right) but provides 911 dispatchers with the location of land-lines callers. Back on June 3 of this year, the FCC was requiring the full 911 compliance of Internet telephone providers by November 28.
As that deadline approached, providers were starting to fear a total cutoff at the end of November. However, the FCC has clarified that providers only "have to cease marketing and accepting new customers in areas where they are not connecting 911 calls with the person's location and phone number."
This isn't exactly good news for any business to get, but it's certainly less catastrophic to both customers and providers than shutting down the whole operation.
Rollie Hawk is a consultant, web publisher, online personality, magazine writer, web developer, network administrator, teacher, husband and father residing in southern Illinois. He graduated in 2002 from Southern Illinois University, earning his BS majoring in math with a minor in chemistry.