Three quarters of a million VoIP customers may have plug pulled

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered VoIP providers to suspend services to customers who do not have enhanced 911 services, which includes providing dispatchers with a caller ID and location, by 28 November. The agency’s order follows several instances where VoIP customers had trouble reaching the emergency services when they dialled 911 for help. Some 750,000 users could be effected by the ruling, predominantly residential customers who use the service in multiple locations. A number of providers have filed an emergency appeal with the US Court of Appeals seeking a stay of execution of the order while it challenges its requirements. The complainants argue that, among other things, they have been given only 120 days to comply.