On 2005-03-24-14:02:26, "Network.Security" <Network.Security@target.com> wrote:
I'm not saying (nor do I hope the PSAPs are either) that Vonage should cease and desist service because of the 911 issues, rather greater partnership needs to be initiated to insure that VoIP service and POTS have the same priority for 911 [...]
Actually, I believe it would be a step in the right direction. I've had an opportunity to use a CLEC-resold version of the Intrado service, which I believe is what Vonage uses to provide its customers with "911" capabilities. Intrado's job is not an easy one, and given the technical, regulatory, and demand-related obstacles they face, they do a decent job at what they do. (With that said, accidents can happen, mostly in the form of the LEC neglecting to contact Intrado and inform them of a subscriber's address, or Intrado neglecting to enter that information in the database, and there's no real way to detect this shy of placing test calls to 911, but I digress...) Rather, the problem we face is that VoIP, despite working "good enough" 99% of the time, is susceptible to failure modes above and beyond POTS: loss of power and/or IP connectivity, to name a couple. The likelihood of these failure modes surfacing in the event of a fire, flood, theft, or other event requiring a 911 dispatch, is a non-trivial concern. What Vonage (or any operator in their position really) should do is tell its customers, in no uncertain terms, that their service does not exist as a replacement for a land line, and to keep a cellular or POTS phone available for use in case of an emergency. And if a subscriber chooses to dial 911 anyway, present them with either a reorder tone, or a recording instructing them to hang up and proceed to the nearest land/cell phone. Of course, the likelihood of this happening out of moral responsibility, and without any -- dare I say -- federal mandate, is unfortunately slim, and goes against the way these services are presently marketed to consumers... My $0.02, -a