FCC Drops VoIP E911 Deadline

The FCC on Monday changed its stance on VoIP E911 service, saying companies did not have to disconnect existing users even if they do not provide the feature. However, in areas where E911 is not available, VoIP providers are no longer permitted to market service or accept new customers.

Several providers, most notably Nuvio, had filed suits in federal court to nullify the November 28 cutoff date. The Kansas-based company had been the most vocally opposed to the ruling since it was introduced in May of this year.

According to Internet phone providers, there was too much work to be done in such a short period of time. Many pointed to the cellular phone industry, which is still working to improve 911 services two years after the FCC request.

The FCC pushed on, however, citing several high profile cases where VoIP customers either failed or experienced delays in reaching emergency services.

However, VoIP got a big push for its usefulness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin used a broadband phone account to stay in contact with the outside world after the storm decimated the area's telecommunications infrastructure.

Senators took note, and began pressuring the FCC to lay off the nascent technology.

The ruling, while not a complete win for the burgeoning Internet telephony industry, gives many the breathing room they need to continue work. According to a recent survey of major VoIP providers, less than half said they would have been able to provide E911 services to all customers by the deadline.

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