SPOTLIGHT: E911 gets Senate approval

VoIP users are one step closer to getting full 911 emergency services after the Senate finally passed the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act this week. The bill was proposed by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). A similar bill passed in the House last year. The sponsor of that bill, House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, John Dingell (D-Mich.), said he thought the two bills could easily be reconciled. The Senate bill requires all VoIP providers to offer enhanced 911 (E911) services to all subscribers. This will connect emergency callers to a local operator and their details (phone number, address, etc.) will be transmitted automatically. This follows several cases where emergency calls have gone astray, including one Vonage caller who was directed to the Vonage service center and then put on hold. For more: Report