Level 3 Communications is expanding its VoIP
new regulations about emergency calls.
The network wholesaler’s e911 service will cover 70 percent of the country
by year’s end, up from 66 percent now. Level 3 will also add an e911
routing service for so-called “nomadic” subscribers (those who move their
service from place to place).
The Broomfield, Colo.-based company, which has been deploying e911
infrastructure over the last 18 months, made the announcements were made at
the National Emergency Number Association’s annual conference in Long
Beach, Calif.
VoIP providers are facing a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate
to provide e911 service. One way to accomplish this is to contract for the
service through Level 3 or similar network service providers.
The exact deadline for the e911 change not been set, but it’s expected to be
in late fall.
The regulations followed several disturbing
incidents where VoIP customers were unable to reach emergency
dispatchers.
A Level 3 spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. In a
statement, Sureel Choksi, executive vice president of services, said, “We
have seen a significant increase in interest from customers looking for a
path to compliance with the FCC’s rapid implementation requirements.”
Level 3 already counts America Online, the Internet arm of Time Warner
, 8X8, Net2Phone, New Global Telecom and Speakeasy as
customers, while others are in trials.