911 for VoIP (Voice over the Internet Protocol) telephone service brings it's own set of challenges.

A VoIP phone provides dial tone over the internet and not over traditional copper wires. With copper wires, you always know the address where the telephone is located. With service over the Internet, the telephone could be connected anywhere in the world where the user can plug into high speed service.

Types of VoIP Phone Service

1)    A VoIP phone is "Fixed" at a location in a place where the combination of the address and the telephone number match those as required by the telephone or data routing company. In this situation, regular Enhanced 911 service with a normal ANI/ALI (Automatic Number Identification/Automatic Location Identification) data stream can be provided in the United States and in Canada in certain circumstances. (Fixed Cable installations etc.) In many cases, even though the client may say they are "fixed" because it is possible to move the digital to analogue adapter, in Canada the CRTC has made a ruling that 911 calls from these locations have to be verified by a company like Northern Communications before being routed to the Emergency agency.

2)    A VoIP phone is a "Foreign Exchange Service" located in a place where the combination of the address and the telephone number do not match those as required by the telephone or data routing company. As an example, a Toronto telephone number that is physically located in Vancouver. As the telephone or data routing company may not be able to process this, regular enhanced 911 service is not available here and by using Northern Communications the client can still enjoy "Basic" 911 service.

3)    A VoIP phone can be "Nomadic" which means that it has no fixed address. This type of phone may be used by a businessperson who travels from city to city and simply plugs their phone in a high speed internet access connection when they get to a hotel room. As no predetermined address is known, Enhanced 911 service is unavailable here and again by using Northern Communications the client can also enjoy "Basic" 911 service as well.

We meet and exceed the government requirements.

Canada
In Canada we believe that we are the only company that is connected to all five ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers) across the country. Because of this, we are able to route calls down the primary trunks of the PSAP/Police/Fire/Ambulance agencies anywhere in the country. This is the method as recommended by the CRTC and demanded by some cities.

We provide bilingual (French/English) service and provide two paths to each of our Canadian clients so that not only can we communicate with the caller in their language of choice, we can get the answer phrase in the correct language as well!

In Canada the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) has made a number of rulings with respect to VoIP companies providing 911 service. You can read more about the CRTC on the CRTC Info Page.

United States
For service in the United States, we work in partnership with a data routing company and 911 service can be provided anywhere in the United States. In many cases, the call is routed automatically to the correct PSAP/Police/Fire/Ambulance agency and no intervention is required. In some cases if certain criteria are met then the call is routed to our trained Call Takers. We verify the address and transfer the call. We stay on the line and confirm the transfer has been correct and the caller and the responding agency are communicating.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) have made a number of rulings with respect to VoIP companies providing 911 service. You can read more about the FCC ruling on the FCC Info page.

Send mail to info@northern911.com with questions or comments about this web site.