Senate Backs 911 Access for Internet Phones

The Senate late Monday unanimously approved a bill giving Internet phone subscribers the ability to dial "911" in emergencies. The measure reflects a compromise between House and Senate versions. Both bodies have passed separate bills on the issue with virtually no opposition. The provision requires a study to identify mechanisms and timetables for developing enhanced 911 capabilities in rural areas. According to Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), many of the country's counties, boroughs and parishes, do not have 911 capabilities that automatically identify a caller's location. The VON Coalition, a trade group for VoIP providers, praised the Senate for passing the bill. "Today's Senate action is a big win for public safety, broadband consumers, and innovators alike," said Jim Kohlenberger, executive director of the VON Coalition. "Dialing 911 can be the most important call a person ever makes. That is why VoIP providers have made providing 911 emergency service in an Internet world a paramount priority." Currently, VoIP providers in the U.S. offer E911 service to more than 97 percent of their customers, Kohlenberger said. E911 gives dispatch centers the location of the 911 caller.
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