| John Nelson 2005-05-24, 5:58 pm |
| In article <kpev81959dpfk6i91vpbuokm2hhidv8fvp@4ax.com>, tiredofspam123
@comcast.net says...
> Jer <gdunn@airmail.ten> wrote:
>
>
> So what? The technical issues of mapping a hotel connection to the hotel
> and room number are trivial compared to, say, determining a cell phone's
> location.
First of all, the notion that the location of a cell phone caller can be
determined quickly and reliably (without the use of GPS enabled
handsets) is a MYTH. Yes, triangulation can narrow down the general
vicinity (depending greatly on the density of sites within the area) but
that's a far cry from "1234 Main Street, Apt. 3-G". So let us set aside
the argument that cell phones provide E911 functionality. Clearly, they
do not.
> Internet cafes, libraries, and all sorts of public access points
> will have the same issue. I guess they'll either have to figure it out or
> quit providing VoIP to those locations.
Or... the FCC could adopt a realistic position with respect to the
technical issues involved in providing E911 services via VOIP.
> VoIP providers got into the business of providing public telephone service,
> but they didn't bother providing the whole package and you see the results.
> It's easy to undercut the other guys when you're allowed to skip the hard
> parts.
It is not that simple. Access to the PSAPs is available ONLY via the
ILEC's. Heretofore, those companies have made it virtually impossible
for most VOIP providers to gain that access. If the FCC is serious about
having the VOIP providers deliver E911, they are going to have to ensure
that the playing field is level.
|