Rick Vandenberg, director of the City of Reno's Department of Communications and Technology says that VOIP subscription services are not directly linked to Reno's Regional Emergency Communications Center that handles local 9-1-1 emergency calls, and that many VOIP services could direct those emergency calls to a remote center that may or may not eventually connect to Reno's 9-1-1 center that has direct links to local emergency services.
"Residents cannot rely on the current voice over IP subscription services to provide a direct link to Reno's 9-1-1 center and its associated services," Vandenberg says. "And, there are a lot of other disadvantages to the voice over IP system related to 9-1-1 emergency calls," he says. One of the most critical limitations, according to Vandenberg, is the fact that Voice over IP 9-1-1 calls, unlike traditional telephone calls for emergency 9-1-1 service, cannot provide an immediate specific geographic location.
"Without knowing the exact location, there's no way of knowing which regional 9-1-1 center should receive the call from the remote center," Vandenberg says, "and certainly no way for the 9-1-1 dispatcher to be able to send help to that location."
Although some VOIP providers do have 9-1-1 call routing based on the address subscribers use when they sign up for the service, there is potential for unnecessary delays in emergency call referrals, according to Vandenberg. "When 9-1-1 calls are made on VOIP, the immediacy of emergency response from local agencies is hampered by delays."
"Based on the current limitations of voice over IP services," Vandenberg says, "the traditional telephone based 9-1-1 call is the best choice because of the immediacy and the local connection to 9-1-1 dispatchers who can ask questions critical to the appropriate response from the appropriate local emergency service."
In addition, Vandenberg points out, VOIP's reliability may be subject to power outages or electricity failure that can mean losing the live Internet connection required for the VOIP subscription service, and VOIP is also subject to the type of "dropouts" or "warbles" that occasionally occur with cellular phone service.
"Traditional telephone 9-1-1 emergency call service to Reno's Regional Emergency Communications Center is the best and most reliable option available," Vandenberg says, "giving area residents the local life-line link they need when an emergency arises."
Vandenberg says area residents seeking more information on Voice over IP services can visit the the Federal Communications Commisions web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/voip911.html
