Help May Not Be on the Way!!

Caution: 9-1-1 Calls over the Internet may not result in help being dispatched!

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is changing the shape of the telecommunications industry. VoIP allows people to use the Internet to make telephone calls.  For those with high-speed Internet access, VoIP allows people to make inexpensive telephone calls, sometimes worldwide! While VoIP is convenient, quick, and inexpensive, it does come with its own price tag.

The cost??  Your personal safety!

METCAD cautions Internet users about expecting help from calls placed to 9-1-1. People should not expect the same immediate response from an Internet call to 9-1-1 as they would from a telephone call to 9-1-1. First of all, they may not have the ability to call 9-1-1 from their VoIP phone.  And, if they are able to dial 9-1-1, the call may not be routed to the appropriate and closest 9-1-1 center responsible for the area where help is needed.  No Automated Location Information (ALI) will be available, nor will the call be handled on any of the 9-1-1 trunk lines.  If callers are able to dial 9-1-1 from the VoIP phone, it will be as if they dialed the 10-digit non-emergency number.  The caller will have to be physically able to tell the call taker where to send help.

VoIP currently is not government regulated. The VoIP and Internet industries have no 9-1-1 emergency calling requirements in place.  It is also only in the developmental stages.  While the Internet VoIP industry is participating in setting voluntary practices toward provision of enhanced 9-1-1 service, it is just that - voluntary.  Access consistency and reliability on behalf of all Internet VoIP providers will be vital to the delivery of 9-1-1 emergency response.