VoIP
Here's a term that you may have never seen before - or may have just
recently started to notice: "VoIP" or "VOIP". It
stands for "Voice over Internet Protocol", and it refers to
the process of sending telephone calls over the internet. That may not
sound like a big deal, but it is! We currently have a huge analog phone
infrastructure that handles telephone calls. That can all go away as
voice is transmitted over the Internet just like any other data.
So if you're not conversant with this new technology, I'd suggest you
take a few moments and read some of these articles. VoIP is here and it
will affect your life.
December 2003 - Here's a brief introduction to VoIP
by Cheryl Heppner.
February 2004 - VoIP is really taking off, and we need to ensure that
it remains accessible to people with hearing loss. The
accessibility issue was raised at a recent FCC Forum on VoIP.
July 2004 - Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is here and growing. And it's threatening
YOUR telephone access!
October 2004 - One of the issues with VoIP has
been that the 911 system can't automatically determine the location of
VoIP callers. Now that issue seems to be resolved.
May 2005 - The FCC rules that VoIP providers must
provide reliable 911 service, and must also be able to identify the
location of the caller.
June 2006 - COAT
Applauds FCC Decision
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If you're among the 1.5 million people who have switched to Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, you'll probably be happy to
know that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is requiring that
within 120 days, VoIP service be able to successfully complete 911
calls, and that the dispatcher be able to determine the location of the
caller.
You may be surprised to learn that VoIP is currently under no such
requirement.
The ruling follows the death of a Florida infant, whose mother was
unable to complete a 911 call using her VoIP service.
Location determination and 911 connectivity are issues with VoIP,
because the service is theoretically available from any Internet
connection. About half of VoIP customers get service from their cable
television providers, who typically do provide 911 compatibility and
location determination, because a customer's cable service is available
only at one particular location.
Unaffected by this ruling is the much broader question of whether
VoIP service will be regulated as a telephone service or as a data
service.
