For some who use VoIP services and call 911, there calls will be routed to a Public Safety Answering Point Dispatcher, but when the call arrives, it won’t have any information displayed pertaining to location or user’s information.

There have already been several instances in the news pertaining to VoIP and problems people have had reaching 911 during an emergency. The FCC has issued regulations regarding VoIP and the problem with 911, but unfortunately the problem is not that easy to fix. The very infrastructure of VoIP differs from standard telephone lines; therefore the system of 911 does not work with VoIP as it does with landlines.

The FCC has made the decision that VoIP service providers will have to have all customers sign a “statement or waiver” stating that they understand their 911 services may be disabled or not working according to standard with their VoIP service.

Some VoIP service providers have addressed the issue by instituting enhanced 911 services, the same as for cellular phone users, but there are still issues that remain. For instance, if a caller is on a VoIP through their laptop computer, or in a different location, the enhanced 911, may not be able to effectively track the computer because they are on an IP network.

The safest measure to take, until this is corrected, is to keep a basic landline phone in use, if not only for the sole purpose of making emergency 911 calls on. Also, you can carry your cell phone with you, even if you use VoIP for your calling needs through your laptop, or if you use a VoWiFi phone, just in case you need to call 911.

If you do need to make a 911 phone call from your VoIP, remember to stay calm, then let the dispatcher know your present location immediately. Remember, they won’t have that information in front of them.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about VoIP and Emergency 911 will come in handy. If you learned anything new about VoIP and Emergency 911 in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

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