Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

VOIP and e911

Nov 14, 2005 8:41PM PST

(a topic from a podcast that's now about a week old): I have a question -- why is it so important for everyone to have a 911 service that automatically tells the 911 operator your address?

A true story: we called an ambulance to my rural area home about 10 years ago. I don't remember whether they could get our address off the system, but it doesn't matter because we were able to tell them the address, and even give them directions. They told me they needed me to park a car at the end of the driveway with flashers on (it was night, and my driveway is 400 feet long). It was inconvenient, but I managed to do it, and later they told me they wouldn't have been able to find me if I hadn't done so.

So my question is, how does having only the address always assure you will get a speedy response? I don't think it always does.

Another "rule" is that your 911 number (your street number) has to be visible from the street, but they don't go around enforcing that. In my area, probably around 40% of the homes, maybe less, have the number visible.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Cell phones?
Nov 15, 2005 12:18PM PST

What about cell phones? I sure hope that one of my old street adresses dont pop up for 911 if im in an emergency somwhere...

- Collapse -
No, No
Nov 15, 2005 12:34PM PST

Your cell phone doesn't use your home or billing address. It tracks your location by looking at the cell phone towers your cell phone is using. Thats how you can call on the freeway and the operator can find out approximately where you are. They can find out exactly where you are with GPS E911.

- Collapse -
but do we have a right to 911 knowing our address?
Nov 16, 2005 5:20AM PST

My point, that I made poorly, was that I can't believe we have a right (that someone can start a lawsuit over) to 911 being able to find us if we can't tell them our address. The reason for all of this with VOIP and e911 is that someone either died or had some serious health problem because they had VOIP and called 911 and didn't get an ambulance as quickly as they seemed to think they would have if they'd had a land line, and I'm just saying that having them automatically know your address doesn't guarantee they can find you.

- Collapse -
It's not just about speed
Nov 16, 2005 6:59AM PST

There are also cases where people dial 911 but are so injured they can't explain where they are and have nobody to help them. That's the major reason behind having the adressed linked to 911. It's the survival rate. If you were alone and in shock you want them to be able to just look and see where you are.

In my opinion, if you don't like 911 knowing where you're calling from, then you don't need to call them.

- Collapse -
not really what I meant
Nov 17, 2005 9:02AM PST

Sorry, I'm having trouble explaining myself. First, it's not that I don't like them knowing my address automatically, it's that I don't know that I have a right to that, so that if it doesn't work I can sue someone because of it. The whole problem with VOIP and e911 became an issue because of a lawsuit, I believe. And my secondary point was, even if they know your address, they might not be able to find you -- read my first post for an example of that, which happened way before VOIP. So knowing the address is not a guarantee, yet it's become a huge problem for the VOIP companies.

I have Vonage and I am unable to dial the toll-free number of my broadband provider because their company is located within local calling distance, so Vonage thinks I shouldn't have to dial a toll-free number to reach them, or some such logic. I'd rather they be forced to fix that problem, personally, than the 911 problem. I'm just saying they've blown this 911 thing way out of proportion to the severity and usefulness of the situation, IMO. That's all. I'll go away and shut up now Happy

- Collapse -
I get ya
Nov 18, 2005 9:46AM PST

No amount of GPS in the world's going to help if they can't find your property anyway. That's a tough one.