The ability to access emergency services by dialing 911 is a vital component of public safety and emergency preparedness. It is imperative that consumers of telephone service be able to reach emergency services regardless of the technology used to place a 911 call. To ensure that a consumer's choice of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for telephone service does not adversely affect that consumer's ability to access emergency services, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken steps to require that providers of interconnected VoIP services (VoIP services that use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including wireless networks, to originate and terminate calls) meet Enhanced 911 (E911) obligations. E911 systems automatically provide to emergency service personnel a 911 callers call back number and, in most cases, location information.
To learn more about VoIP and 911 Service, see our VoIP and 911 Service Guide.
