FCC make VoIP 911 order official

The Federal Communications Commission Friday released its formal order requiring voice-over-IP service providers to support E911 service to their customers. The release formalizes the order issued in May and enables the ruling to be published in the Federal Register.

That starts the clock on the 120-day deadline imposed by the FCC for VoIP providers to comply with the E911 offering.

Within the 120 days, the VoIP providers must offer E911 service through indirect connection with a 911 provider, direct connection with an existing E911 service provider or by other means. This provision is expected to pose the greatest challenge to smaller VoIP companies, since they may be forced to buy E911 service from a third party to meet the deadline.

In publishing its ruling, the FCC “appeared to look favorably on wholesale offerings” from Level 3 Communications, Intrado, Pac-West Telecom and others, according to commentary on the ruling from Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice.

The FCC required VoIP providers to notify all current and future customers of the E911 service and its limitations and to provide stickers which customers can attach to VoIP phones outlining limitations of E911 service, particularly when customers choose to roam.

The FCC also issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in which it will seek industry comment on whether to require future VoIP terminal adapters and other equipment to be capable of automatically providing physical location information for an E911 operator to locate a caller unable to speak.