Unlike other VOIP's who don't even offer 911 (i.e. Voicepulse) most of SR's customer base already enjoyed E-911 as part of their base plan. The rest will be put on E-911 within 30 days, well ahead of the FCC mandated schedule. Good going, Sunrocket.
Sunrocket is in the news this morning:
YAHOO's ARTICLE ABOUT SUNROCKET'S E-911 SCHEDULE
SunRocket First VoIP Company to Connect on E-911
Press Release Source: SunRocket
SunRocket First VoIP Company to Connect on E-911
Thursday May 19, 8:00 am ET
Internet Phone Company to Provide Enhanced 911 Throughout Service Area Within Thirty Days; Expects to Meet New FCC Requirements Ahead of Schedule
VIENNA, Va., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- SunRocket, one of the nation's leading Internet phone service providers, has announced that it expects to meet ahead of time the new Federal Communications Commission requirements for E-911 that will be issued later today. While the order is expected to require that all VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers implement Enhanced 911 (E-911) capabilities within the next several months, all SunRocket customers in the company's service regions will be equipped with E-911 within 30 days.
"E-911," short for "Enhanced 911," indicates a technology that allows emergency services to identify the physical location and call-back number of the caller. SunRocket automatically provisions E-911 for customers when they establish service, utilizing wholesale network partners to access the traditional emergency 911 infrastructure.
"SunRocket has been committed since inception to provide Enhanced 911 emergency support," said Paul Erickson, chairman and co-founder of SunRocket. "The majority of SunRocket subscribers have been provided Enhanced 911 from the start, and we are extending E-911 throughout our entire service footprint as fast as possible."
The rising popularity of VoIP has highlighted concerns about access to emergency services. Unlike traditional telephone service, many VoIP providers do not route 911 calls to emergency call centers together with the location information and name of the caller.
By carefully assigning phone numbers matched with the legacy service areas for those phone numbers, SunRocket can enable E-911 for customers today without requiring expensive modifications. Currently, the traditional E-911 infrastructure cannot easily accommodate "out-of-region" phone numbers and "nomadic" scenarios, where consumers might transport their VoIP equipment between different locations. When the E-911 infrastructure is enhanced to support these situations, SunRocket will also support those applications.
"Consumers expect E-911 with home phone service," continued Erickson. "We feel so strongly about this at SunRocket that we no longer sell our service in areas where we cannot ensure access to E-911. Fortunately, our wholesale network partners are equally committed to this imperative, and we applaud the efforts of Global Crossing and Broadwing Communications to enable E-911 for SunRocket customers. As we expand our service footprint via additional wholesale partners in the coming weeks, E-911 will remain an essential ingredient."
Among nationwide VoIP providers, SunRocket already leads the pack in E- 911. Other VoIP providers require customers to "opt-in" to some form of 911 service. Many providers offer a limited version of 911 service that does not automatically send location information or ensure routing to the appropriate emergency dispatch operator. Some actually charge extra for optional E-911 functionality, and still others provide no 911 service at all. In supported service regions, SunRocket automatically provisions E-911 at no extra charge. In regions where E-911 is not readily available, SunRocket no longer allows consumers to establish service. For existing SunRocket customers currently outside of E-911 regions, SunRocket is working on upgrade solutions.
Due to the risk of broadband service disruptions, even with E-911 support, VoIP customers need to a have an alternative means of accessing emergency service, such as a cell phone. Also, Internet phone customers should consider the use of a battery backup to supply power to the high-speed modem, VoIP adapter, and a cordless phone in the event of a power outage.
"SunRocket is known for being the 'no-gotcha' company, and that includes E-911," said Erickson. "From the outset, we have strived to build a better phone company, and on something as important as 911, we're going to give you the very best capabilities we can, we're going to fully disclose the constraints, and we're going to help you choose the best and safest option for your home," he continued. "No gotchas."
About SunRocket
Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, SunRocket, the "no gotcha" phone company, is bringing Internet phone service to mainstream America with the nation's first full-year, flat-rate home phone package. SunRocket is the only company to offer complete Internet phone service at an all-inclusive, bottom- line annual price of $199, with no hidden charges, termination penalties or "gotchas." SunRocket makes it easy for households with high-speed Internet access to take advantage of the incredible value and enhanced capabilities of state-of-the-art Internet telephony. Blue Run Ventures is the lead investor in the privately-held corporation. For more information, see the company's web site at »
www.SunRocket.com.
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Source: SunRocket