This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Editorial Focus - Communications


specifically to request this service. VoIP providers may not allow their customers to “opt‐out” of 911 ser‐ vice.


Before an interconnected VoIP ser‐ vice provider may activate a new cus‐ tomer’s service, the provider must obtain from the customer the physi‐ cal location where the service will first be used so that emergency ser‐ vices personnel will be able to locate VoIP callers who dial 911. Interconnected VoIP providers must also provide ways for all customers to update the physical location they have registered with the provider, if it changes.


Interconnected VoIP providers must trans‐ mit all 911 calls, as well as a callback number and the caller’s regis‐ tered physical location, to the PSAP over the 911 network.


All providers must specifically advise new and existing customers of the circumstances under which 911 service may not be available


through the interconnected VoIP ser‐ vice or may in some way be limited in comparison to traditional 911 service. They must distribute labels to all cus‐ tomers warning them if 911 service may be limited or not available and instruct‐ ing them to place the labels on and/or near the equipment used in conjunc‐ tion with the interconnected VoIP ser‐ vice.


Interconnected VoIP providers must obtain affirmative acknowledgement from all existing customers that they are aware of and understand any limi‐ tations of their 911 service.


Emergency Calling For Persons With Speech Or Hearing Disabilities


Text telephone devices (TTYs) allow persons with speech or hearing disabil‐ ities to send and receive text messages


30 EMS PRO Magazine


over telephone networks. Wireless ser‐ vice providers have made technological changes to their networks to provide TTY compatibility for digital wireless calls for consumers with TTY‐compati‐ ble handsets. In certain locations, how‐ ever, TTY users may not be able to com‐ plete 911 calls using these newly avail‐ able digital wireless services. In the meantime, TTY users should consider alternatives for placing an emergency 911 call, such as wireline phone service, analog wireless service, or Telecommunications Relay Service. To further improve emergency call handling for persons with speech or hearing disabilities, the FCC now requires Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol (IP) Relay service providers to provide regular ten‐digit telephone numbers to their subscribers so that subscribers’ emergency calls, along with the ten‐digit number and location information, automatically route to the appropriate PSAP. VRS and IP Relay providers must inform their subscribers of these new proce‐ dures and the need to keep location information updated.


Network And Power Outages


The FCC has established the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) to allow wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable providers voluntarily to report on the status of their infrastruc‐ ture and operations during times of cri‐ sis. This information is not made public, but allows the FCC to monitor and eval‐ uate communications services during a crisis. DIRS supplements the Network Outage Reporting System (NORS). Through NORS, the FCC requires wire‐ less, wireline, cable, and satellite com‐ panies providing voice and paging ser‐ vices to report significant disruptions or outages to their networks, and dis‐ ruptions affecting 911 facilities or air‐ ports. Again the data is not made pub‐ lic, but allows the FCC to monitor and evaluate disruptions and outages. If there is a power outage during an emergency, your wireline phone, wire‐ less device, or VoIP service may not work unless you have a back‐up power supply. If you suffer only an electrical


power outage, you should still be able to use a traditional wireline (but not cordless) telephone, because electrical and telephone transmissions use differ‐ ent circuits or wires and telephone company facilities have back‐up power available. If you keep the battery on your wireless phone or other device fully charged, these devices should also continue working during a power out‐ age. Note that, because wireless net‐ works may be congested during an emergency, sending a text message may work better than placing a voice call. Finally, unless you have a battery‐ operated TV or radio, these devices will not work during a power outage.


Emergency Alert System


In the event of an emergency, many people rely on radio and television to receive updates on what is happing and what to do.


The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires TV and radio broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service providers, and wireline video service providers to offer to the President the communications capability to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency informa‐ tion such as AMBER (missing children) alerts and emergency weather infor‐ mation targeted to a specific area. The FCC, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS), implement the EAS at the national level. Only the President determines when the EAS will be acti‐ vated at the national level, and has del‐ egated the administration of this func‐ tion to FEMA.


Exception: If your local television, radio tower or studio is damaged dur‐ ing a natural disaster like a tornado, you might not receive emergency alerts. EAS was designed, however, so


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52