http://voxilla.com/voxstory162.html
Regulation
By CAROLYN SCHUK
for VOXILLA.COM
In recent months, 911 has quickly become a VoIP industry hot button,
and a major headache to service providers who have enjoyed a largely
regulation-free business environment absolving them of the need to
provide emergency calling services similar to those required of
landline telephone providers.
But the climate is rapidly changing and VoIP service providers are
scrambling to find solutions to the 911 dilemna. And, with the threat
of federal regulation requiring VoIP providers to quickly implement
911 service looming, some providers are saying they will be forced to
severely limit their service markets. One major operator, AT&T, says
it may have no choice but to pull the plug on current customers.
A recent allegation that an infant in Florida died after her mother
could not reach an emergency services operator through the family's
Vonage service, and lawsuits against Vonage by state attorney generals
in Connecticut, Michigan and Texas over the company's 911 limitations,
have put a lot of heat on all US-based VoIP service providers.
Adding to their new difficulties is a recent significant change in
composition of the Federal Communications Commission. When led by
former Chairman Michael Powell, the FCC maintained a hands-off
approach to IP telephony. But in March, President Bush appointed the
less VoIP-friendly Kevin Martin to replace Powell, and when the
commission next meets on May 19th, it is poised, for the first time,
to directly regulate VoIP by requiring providers in the US to offer
emergency calling services through traditional 911 systems.
The big problem for VoIP providers is that there is no easy 911
solution.
Full story at:
http://voxilla.com/voxstory162.html
How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home:
http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html
If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/
Jack Decker (