First it was CALEA and E911. Now VoIP providers also must support 711 functionality to enable the disabled to take advantage of VoIP. While it makes manufacturing products and providing services more complex, it's nice to know that people who are hard of hearing or speech impaired can enjoy the benefits of VoIP like the rest of us. In addition to offering functionality, VoIP providers must contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) fund. TRS helps pay for the operators who connect 711 calls.
For more on new VoIP regulation:
- read this article [1] from ars technica
Related Articles:
SF Vonage users get E911. Report [2]
More addresses in E911. Report [3]
Judge to VoIP carriers: Heed CALEA. Report [4]
Links:
[1] http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070702-voip-must-support-disabled-users-pay-fees.html
[2] http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/sf-vonage-users-get-e911/2006-08-08
[3] http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/more-addresses-in-e911/2006-06-16
[4] http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/judge-to-voip-carriers-heed-calea/2006-06-13