Midwest Wireless urged the FCC to require open access by VoIP car...
Midwest Wireless urged the FCC to require open access by VoIP carriers to selective routers nationwide so customers can access E-911 services when they move VoIP equipment. Otherwise, it said, VoIP providers should be permitted to fulfill their E-911…
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obligation when equipment is moved by notifying customers that: (1) Their phones may not provide E-911 service when moved. (2) Their 911 calls may be routed to an administrative line at the PSAP. (3) The 911 caller should identify his location to the PSAP. Midwest also said there’s “lack of a record in the proceeding to support a new requirement to provide E-911 service.” The FCC is expected to require VoIP providers to connect E-911 calls directly to emergency answering points by Sept. But Midwest said there are “many technical issues outstanding which could best be resolved through, for example, Commission-sponsored workshops or a rulemaking. Such fora would encourage all carriers to participate and potentially expedite resolution of technical issues and necessary intercarrier coordination.” Midwest also urged the FCC to move all carriers to a “forward-looking cost model” for intercarrier compensation and universal service. Such a model based on “an efficient network, combined with the introduction of competitive ETCs, will lower support to all carriers over the long run as well as enabling competitive forces to deliver efficiencies that the regulators cannot.” Midwest’s comments came at its ex parte meeting with FCC officials last week.