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FCC Orders Emergency Call Handling and Commits to Numbering for Internet Relay Users in 2008
By advocacy | March 21, 2008
For years, the NAD, along with other consumer advocacy groups, has been advocating for access to 911 emergency call centers by consumers who use Internet-based relay services. Consumers with TTYs can call 911 emergency call centers directly. However, many consumers have switched to Internet-based communication services and have stopped using TTYs. Many of these consumers have no access to 911 emergency call centers.
Finally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order that will require Internet-based relay service providers to connect consumers to appropriate 911 emergency call centers. The Order adopts emergency call handling requirements for Video Relay Service (VRS), Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay), and IP captioned telephone service (IP CTS, also called WebCapTel). The Order will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which should happen very soon.
This Order requires VRS, IP Relay, and IP CTS providers to accept and handle emergency calls, access a database to determine an appropriate 911 emergency call center for the caller’s location, and relay the call to that entity. Further, providers will be required to:
- implement a system to answer an emergency call before non-emergency calls;
- request the caller’s name and location information at the beginning of every emergency call;
- deliver the caller’s name and the location of the emergency to the 911 emergency call center;
- deliver information about the relay provider to the 911 emergency call center (so the 911 emergency call center can re-establish contact with the CA if the call is disconnected); and
- if the call is disconnected, immediately re-establish contact with the caller and/or the appropriate 911 emergency call center and resume handling the call, when feasible.
The FCC will require Internet-based relay providers to include an advisory on their websites and in any consumer promotional materials that explains the circumstances under which relay 911 emergency calls may be limited, compared to direct TTY 911 calls.
In addition, the Order includes a commitment by the FCC to adopt a 10-digit numbering system linked to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) (regular telephone numbers). The FCC will also require a location registration process to enable Internet-based relay providers to obtain and access user location information that will speed the process of identifying, connecting, and transmitting the caller’s location information to the appropriate 911 emergency call center. This location registration process will be tied to the 10-digit numbering plan.
The FCC issued a Public Notice asking for comments to “refresh” the record on relay service numbering issues quickly. Comments are due by April 8, 2008, and reply comments are due by April 18, 2008. The FCC plans to hold a stakeholder workshop immediately after the comment period, and commits to completing a final order on a 10-digit numbering plan by July 1, 2008. That 10-digit numbering order will require that the plan be implemented by December 31, 2008.
Because emergency call handling is important for all Americans, the FCC has adopted these interim emergency call handling requirements for Internet-based TRS providers. These requirements will be used until a technological solution is in place that enables Internet-based relay providers to automatically determine the location of the consumer and the appropriate 911 emergency call center. The NAD is pleased that the FCC included a timeline for the implementation of a 10-digit numbering plan. With out a timeline, interim solutions often become indefinite solutions and, in the case of emergency calls and 10-digit numbering, indefinite is not acceptable.
Click here to read the Report and Order on emergency call handling requirements for Internet-based relay providers.
Click here to read the Public Notice to refresh the record on 10-digit numbering for Internet-based relay service users.
Topics: General |
March 21st, 2008 at 2:04 pm
about the time…… I hope the video relay will work thing out. I know alot of deaf ppls are rarely using TTY in these day. We need an emergency call thru video relay. Its real important. Since TTY will be gone soon….
April 7th, 2008 at 10:48 am
10-digit numbering plan would be a big help to VP users especially 9-1-1 calls.