Hurricane Response Boosts VoIP Agenda In Congress

Providers of Internet telephone service are enjoying a boost on Capitol Hill as Senate Commerce Committee members have gravitated toward their story of success in responding to Hurricane Katrina, in contrast to the failure of other telecommunications services. Companies such as Vonage are promoting a bill (S. 1063), that would grant them relief from an FCC order mandating that they provide "enhanced 911" calling capabilities by Nov. 28. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) sponsored the measure, which -- among other things -- would grant emergency responders immunity from lawsuits arising from taking 911 calls from Voice over Internet Protocol providers. That is an immunity they have when they take calls from traditional telephone and wireless companies. Besides offering some relief for VoIP providers, S. 1063 would modernize the public safety 911 system. That has led Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Commerce ranking member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) to take an interest in the bill, which is also supported by Sens. Conrad Burns (R-Mont), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). Sens Stevens and Inouye have agreed to support the bill and promised a markup by Oct. 21, according to an aide to Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) who introduced the identical House bill, H.R. 2418. Gordon aide Dana Lichtenberg said the E911 bill would be part of a package of post-Katrina communications legislation, including a bill designed to let public safety offices communicate with each other and legislation to modernize the National Emergency Alert service. The E911 bill's other elements pertaining to VoIP would grant the FCC clear jurisdiction to impose such rules, something that has been challenged by four VoIP providers. It also would clearly require the regional Bell firms and other phone companies to provide access to phone lines and network databases that Vonage and other VoIP companies need to deliver 911 calls.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]