The Village of Northbrook News and Events

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is one of the latest telecommunications technologies. It allows people to make telephone calls using broadband Internet connection as opposed to traditional analog wire line phone service.

 

VoIP works by converting a standard telephone voice signal into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. VoIP calls can be made from a computer or from a standard telephone with an adaptor. VoIP calls can be received by both VoIP service subscribers and non-subscribers. If a VoIP call is received by someone with a standard phone line, the signal is reconverted from digital back to analog before the call is answered.

 

VoIP technology requires a broadband Internet connection. The user can then make telephone calls with either their computer, a special VoIP phone, or a regular phone with an adapter.

 

VoIP telephone service may look and appear to work like a regular telephone, but it connects to the Internet, not a standard telephone line. Some VoIP service providers may not currently offer E911 services to their subscribers. Check your service provider’s website for emergency calling features. If 911 services are available, be sure to give your location and call back number, as many VoIP services do not currently provide this information. Also be advised that if the power is out, your VoIP telephone service may also be out. The Village of Northbrook urges anyone considering VoIP telephone service to thoroughly investigate the company and its ability to provide E911 service prior to making any purchase.

 

 

 

The public relies on Enhanced 9-1-1 service and has an expectation that this service will be available from any phone. This may not be the case if you use your Internet connection for telephone service. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones are increasingly being used by residential and business customers across the country and may delay emergency response. These services from many different providers use the Internet instead of more traditional direct wire line or cellular service to route telephone calls. For those with high-speed or broadband Internet access, VoIP allows people to make inexpensive telephone calls, sometimes worldwide. While VoIP is convenient, quick, and inexpensive, it can come at a potentially high cost. That cost---your personal safety.

 

The Village of Northbrook cautions Internet users about expecting emergency help from VoIP calls placed to 911. You may not receive the same immediate response from an Internet call to 911 that you would from a conventional wire line 911 call.

 

First, you may not be able to call 911 from your VoIP phone. Some VoIP providers route callers to a recording. Second, if you are able to dial 911, the call may not be routed to the appropriate and closest 911 center for the area where help is needed. On a traditional hard wired 911 call, your telephone number (Automated Number Information-ANI) and address (Automated Location Information-ALI) are displayed at the 911 center. On a VoIP call, the location information may not be available. Finally, in many cases when dialing 911 from a VoIP phone you may have to physically be able to tell the calltaker where to send help and possibly even be required to identify your own emergency providers.

 

VoIP is not currently government regulated. The VoIP and Internet industries have no 911 emergency calling requirements in place, and to date, are not mandated to do so. While the VoIP industry is participating in setting voluntary practices toward provision of enhanced 911 service, it’s just that – voluntary. Consistency and reliability on behalf of all VoIP providers will be vital to the delivery of any 911 emergency response.

 

Some VoIP companies may be able to provide the same Enhanced 911 service that we have come to expect from landline telephones. Until this becomes standard across the industry, those using VoIP to call 911 should understand that this “advanced” telephone service could be a step back to the days when you dialed the 10-digit police, fire, or medical service telephone number to call for help.

 

The Village of Northbrook urges anyone considering the purchase of VoIP service to thoroughly investigate the company and its ability to provide E911 service prior to making any purchase.