E911 Featured Article

ACUTA and Others Keeping Eye on FCC NET 911 Compliance Requirements

By Tim Gray, TMCnet Web Editor

After the Federal Communications Commission adopted new 911 rules for VoIP Service Providers (VSPs) under the NET (News - Alert) 911 Improvement Act, essentially making Internet-related communications providers and wired and cellular telephone providers partners in the nation's E911 systems, there has been a scramble to ensure compliance.

 

The rules are expected to establish a regulatory framework for interconnected VoIP providers to have access to the full suite of capabilities needed in order to provide 911 and E911 service in compliance with FCC (News - Alert) requirements.

 

The requirement could have a greater affect on colleges and universities that operate public safety answering points (PSAP) that are often operated on campuses. The emergency calls are routed directly to the local public safety answering point (PSAP).

 

While designed to improve the implementation of 911 service by voice over IP providers, the new rules now require any entity that owns or controls “a capability that can be used for 911 or E911 service” to make that capability available to interconnected voice over IP providers. 

 

Jeri Semer, the executive editor of the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA), says universities and colleges have been anticipating these rules for some time and have worked to make sure they are in position for compliance.

 

Access to 911 or E911 calling is a critical factor in the safety and security of university communities, according to Semer.

 

“As VoIP services become more widespread, their capability to provide this essential service becomes ever more important,” Semer wrote recently in a column published by ACUTA.

 

“ACUTA has also been closely watching this matter to see if the FCC would impose any new requirements on enterprises (including universities) that own VoIP PBXs, or incorporate entities such as universities into the definition of ‘Interconnected VoIP Provider.”

 

Semer noted that the FCC Order did not expand the definition of interconnected VoIP providers, and does not impose any new requirements on customers such as VoIP PBX (News - Alert) owners.

 

“Universities that operate official registered Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) will be required to provide access to certain information and capabilities upon request by a VoIP provider,” said Semer.

 

However, according to Semer, the ACUTA’s attorney has warned members the “full potential effects of these regulations” are not yet known. Although the order does not specifically require anything of colleges and universities that do not operate PSAPs, the requirement to make any “capability” used by voice over IP providers to offer E911 available could, in the long run, implicate much more than the PSAP, the attorney has said.

 

 

Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Tim�s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Tim Gray

• Is 'Close Enough' OK in a 911 Emergency?
• Do You Feel Safe At Work? Most IT Managers Don't Have Correct E911 Programs in Place
• Your First E911 Decision? PS-ALI or Third-Party Solution