WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nuvio Corp., an Internet phone service provider, has challenged U.S. rules requiring it to make full 911 emergency calling services available to customers by late November, the company said on Monday.
The Federal Communications Commission in May ordered Internet phone service providers to ensure 911 calls go directly to emergency dispatchers and provide the location of callers by November 29, four months after the order became effective.
The decision came after the FCC heard tear-filled testimony from parents who only were able to reach administrative offices when they dialed 911 with their Internet phones.
The service, known as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), can be used anywhere a person has an high-speed Internet connection, and therefore knowing a caller's location can be difficult.
Nuvio, which has roughly 10,000 VOIP customers, argued that wireless carriers had years to develop systems for locating callers to 911 and that the short timeline for Internet calling services was unreasonable.
"While we agree with the need for emergency services and want to be able to provide 911 to all of our customers, the FCC's order left a lot to be desired," Nuvio President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Talley told Reuters.
"It appears they adopted their 120-day, drop-dead date just arbitrarily -- it certainly wasn't supported in the record," he said. "I think you're talking about this being a several-year process" to comply with the requirements.
The FCC declined comment.
Nuvio reported last week that approximately 76 percent of its customers have acknowledged the limitations of 911 with Internet phone service. The FCC said providers should disconnect anyone who fails to reply by August 29.
The company asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to hear the case and rule by November 7 or it may have to begin notifying customers about suspending service.
Nuvio told the court that the FCC was provided clear evidence that technological obstacles were "nowhere near being overcome."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050815/wr_nm/telecoms_fcc_911_dc;_ylt=AtzOD5sggcKWoFOEpKobwjUjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
The Federal Communications Commission in May ordered Internet phone service providers to ensure 911 calls go directly to emergency dispatchers and provide the location of callers by November 29, four months after the order became effective.
The decision came after the FCC heard tear-filled testimony from parents who only were able to reach administrative offices when they dialed 911 with their Internet phones.
The service, known as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), can be used anywhere a person has an high-speed Internet connection, and therefore knowing a caller's location can be difficult.
Nuvio, which has roughly 10,000 VOIP customers, argued that wireless carriers had years to develop systems for locating callers to 911 and that the short timeline for Internet calling services was unreasonable.
"While we agree with the need for emergency services and want to be able to provide 911 to all of our customers, the FCC's order left a lot to be desired," Nuvio President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Talley told Reuters.
"It appears they adopted their 120-day, drop-dead date just arbitrarily -- it certainly wasn't supported in the record," he said. "I think you're talking about this being a several-year process" to comply with the requirements.
The FCC declined comment.
Nuvio reported last week that approximately 76 percent of its customers have acknowledged the limitations of 911 with Internet phone service. The FCC said providers should disconnect anyone who fails to reply by August 29.
The company asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to hear the case and rule by November 7 or it may have to begin notifying customers about suspending service.
Nuvio told the court that the FCC was provided clear evidence that technological obstacles were "nowhere near being overcome."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050815/wr_nm/telecoms_fcc_911_dc;_ylt=AtzOD5sggcKWoFOEpKobwjUjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
