9-1-1 Network Calls for a Change - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

3/16/05

9-1-1 Network Calls for a Change

New concerns about 9-1-1 access are being raised statewide, a month after NewsChannel 11 uncovered problems about customers relying on Vonage for 9-1-1.

The Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network in Houston is now calling on regulators to make changes. They're asking the Federal Communications Commission to require Voice Over the Internet Protocol providers to offer enhanced 9-1-1 to all users.

Last month, NewsChannel 11 put the Vonage system to the test and found 9-1-1 would work but in limited situations. Just days later, the Texas Attorney General issued a consumer alert, warning the system may not be able to provide emergency officials with your exact location.

2/10/05
9-1-1 Concerns Prompt New Vonage Internet Phone System Test
Thousands of Texans are replacing their traditional home phones with a virtual number from Vonage. As it grows in popularity, so do the concerns of Lubbock emergency responders.