FCC Pulls Back on VoIP 911 Policy

The FCC late Tuesday agreed to extend the deadline for VoIP providers by another month, acknowledging the work many of the providers had already done to inform their customers of the limitations of 911 over VoIP.

In a public notice, the FCC said that 21 companies had received notices of 100 percent compliance, and at least 32 others had heard back from more than 90 percent of their customers.

"In recognition of these substantial efforts and the very high percentage of received acknowledgments, the Bureau announces that it will not pursue enforcement action against such providers," the commission said.

The FCC did say it expected providers to continue to attempt contact with the remaining non-responders and would inform the commission when they reach 100 percent compliance.

Another status report will be due October 25, when a percentage of acknowledgements should be given as well as detail on the efforts to contact those who have not responded. It appeared from the filing that as long as a provider had more than 90 percent compliance, the FCC would not pursue any action.

VoIP got a big push for its usefulness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin used a broadband phone account to stay in contact with the outside world after the storm decimated the area's telecommunications infrastructure.

Senators took note, and began pressuring the FCC to lay off the nascent technology. Based on Tuesday's notice, the lobbying seems to have worked.

VoIP providers applauded the decision. "We commend the FCC's decisive action to extend the enforcement deadline and on behalf of our nearly one million customers, thank them for their consideration of this critical public safety issue," Jeffrey A. Citron, chairman and CEO of Vonage, said in a statement Wedneday.

The market-leading VoIP provider said E-911 services should be available by the end of the year for all of its customers.