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CXtec Knowledge BaseStructured Cabling Telephony |
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VoIP Emergency Calls 911Business owners and private citizens alike have been switching over to a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system so that they may make and receive calls over the Internet, which provides a crystal clear means of communication at a low rate. This method has become increasingly popular in recent years and has many advantages over using analog phony services. One of the very few drawbacks that VoIP users have discovered is the potential difficulty in making an emergency call. When people have dialed 911, their call has not been directed to the proper emergency operator. This happens because the online system is not always able to zero in on exactly where the call is being made from, so the Internet Protocol may list the geographic origination of the call incorrectly, and thereby send the emergency call to the wrong phone line. Most often these calls are sent to an emergency office that is located in the area where the systems believes the call is coming from, but some calls have also been routed to another phone line within a local police station or even to a call center. This has led to major delays in emergency service personnel arriving to the scene where they are needed. Police Reaction Because of the trouble VoIP phone systems sometimes have in placing emergency calls, several law enforcement officials have objected to their use during an emergency situation. It has been said that the use of internet based phones can be dangerous when users are in need of police, fire or medical services immediately, as using these phones may inadvertently delay their arrival. A Possible Solution One attempt to fix this issue is known as VoIP Enhanced 911 (E911). This is a new method of dialing 911 while using a VoIP based phone system. It works by producing an actual address for the location from which the web based call is being made so that the operator will see exactly where the call is coming from. Showing a physical street address when making an emergency call is actually a requirement based on the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act which was created in 1999, however this continues to be an optional service from VoIP phone providers. Utilizing the E911 option will result in an extra fee for the user, which discourages many people from requesting it. Internet phone users who do pay for the E911 option have had much better luck in obtaining the emergency services they need. Their calls are routed properly, and the emergency operators are able to see exactly where the call is originating from. One important note is that it is up to the phone user to make any updates to their address. Therefore, when a person who subscribes to a VoIP phone service with E911 activated moves to a new location, it becomes their responsibility to report that move and make sure their address is updated. Otherwise any future emergency call may be routed to the wrong office because the call will appear to originate from their former address. |
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