1. Can I dial 9-1-1 from my VoIP phone?
You can reach emergency assistance by dialing 9-1-1 on
most VoIP phones. However, there are important differences
between some VoIP 9-1-1 emergency dialing and traditional 9-1-1
service from a standard phone. It is important to familiarize
yourself with these differences. Often the 9-1-1 call taker will
not have a display of the number you called from or your
location. In addition, your call may arrive on a general access
line in the call center, not through the 9-1-1 system.
Some service providers automatically provide 9-1-1 dialing
service, some offer optional 9-1-1 dialing through registration
and some do not support 9-1-1 emergency dialing
or other emergency functions. These service providers advise end
users to maintain an alternate means of accessing 9-1-1 service.
2. How do I know what level of 9-1-1 Service I have
with my VoIP phone?
You need to research the features of your VoIP service
as it pertains to emergency dialing by accessing the service
provider’s web site. Search provider’s Web sites for “emergency
calling”. Once you are aware of the 9-1-1 limitations, you need
to notify all potential users of the phone (spouse, children,
babysitters, etc.).
3. How is my 9-1-1 call routed to the correct
location?
When you sign up for VoIP that has automatic 9-1-1
service or when subscribing to optional dialing 9-1-1 service,
you fill out a short form that tells your actual physical
address. When you dial 9-1-1, your call is routed from the VoIP
network to the general access line in a 9-1-1 call center
associated with the service address you provided when you signed
up.
In order for 9-1-1 emergency dialing to work properly, the
service address on file for you MUST correspond to the physical
location of your VoIP phone. This will enable your service
provider to accurately identify your emergency Public Safety
Answering Point and correctly route your call. You cannot
specify a post office box.
4. What if my 9-1-1 call is misrouted to the
incorrect 9-1-1 answering point?
If your VoIP 9-1-1 call is not routed to the correct 9-1-1
answering point, you should tell the call taker the city, county
and state where you need help. The call taker can attempt to
transfer your emergency call to the correct answering point. It
is a good idea to know what police, fire or sheriff’s department
is responsible for your 9-1-1 calls and have their 10-digit
phone number on hand to provide the call taker.
5. Does 9-1-1 know where I am when calling from my
VoIP phone?
It depends on your service provider. The first
information you will need to provide or verify for the 9-1-1
call taker is your location, name, and telephone number,
especially if the emergency service personnel does not
have this information available automatically. When this occurs,
your call goes to a general access line at the answering point,
which is different from how traditional 9-1-1 calls are routed
to an emergency call center.
6. Can I call 9-1-1 from my VoIP phone when I’m
traveling?
If you have emergency dialing activated and have mobile VoIP
service with your provider, service is portable to any location
with broadband Internet access. You may call 9-1-1 no matter
where you physically reside. However, when you are not at the
physical location that you entered in your customer profile, the
call will not route to the proper 9-1-1 call center. Dialing
9-1-1 will automatically route your call to the local emergency
personnel location for the address on file, not your temporary
location. If you relocate your VoIP phone on a temporary basis,
such as taking it with you when you go on a trip, don’t use it
to get emergency help. Use another telephone to dial 9-1-1.
7. What if my 9-1-1 call is disconnected?
Unlike traditional 9-1-1 service, the 9-1-1 call taker
will usually not be able to call you back if you are
disconnected. They often will not have access to your phone
number. If you are disconnected, hang up and dial 9-1-1 again.
8. Do service outages affect my ability to call
9-1-1?
It may. Just as your regular cordless phone will not work
without power, your VoIP phone may not work without power
either. As a result, you may be unable to make any calls,
including those to 9-1-1 during an electrical power outage.
Similarly, you may not be able to make 9-1-1 calls from your
VoIP phone if your broadband service provider has a service
outage or if any other service disruptions keep you from being
able to make any outbound call.
9. Do I need to notify someone if I move?
Yes. When you move, you must update your new location on your
service provider’s Web site. It may take several days to update
your record.
10. Should I keep my traditional phone line after I
subscribe to VoIP service?
Yes. 9-1-1 industry leaders recommend that you keep your
traditional phone line in addition to your VoIP phone service in
order to successfully access 9-1-1 services and to have
telephone access during a power outage.
11. Do I need to tell anyone in my family that I have
changed our phone service?
Yes. It is very important that all persons that live in your
home understand the differences in emergency calling with your
new VoIP service. Children and babysitters always need to be
educated on how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. You might want to
post your phone number and address by the phone for easy access.
12. Will my home / business security monitoring
service work with my VoIP service?
It might, but it might not. Check with your VoIP service
provider to see if they support analog modem traffic such as
burglar alarms, fax machines, Tivo Digital Video Recorders, etc.
13. Can I make a 9-1-1 test call from my VoIP phone?
It depends. Before doing so, please contact your law enforcement
agency on their non-emergency line. Confirm that you are in
their 9-1-1 jurisdiction and then ask if you can place a test
9-1-1 call. Many 9-1-1 call centers will comply with this
request as long as they are not too busy with other emergency
calls at the time. They may ask you to place your test call at a
certain time.
