VoIP 9-1-1 Myth Busters

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VoIP 9-1-1 Myth Busters

• Jim Shepard
• Executive Vice President
• HBF Group, Inc. / 9-1-1 Services

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What are we going to cover?

• To gain insights into the current status of VoIP
  and its impact on 9-1-1 and public safety and to
  dispel myths and misinformation standing in the
  way of VoIP Service Providers (VSPs) making
  informed and accurate decisions regarding VoIP.

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A Quick Overview of VoIP 9-1-1
ESGW
HBF i-911
PSAP
ALI / LISEmergency Routing DB VoIP Positioning
Center
VSPSoft Switch
9-1-1SelectiveRouter
Pre-Call i-911 Address Validation
SafetyResponseCenter
ALI
Pre-Call Subscriber location is validated
utilizing a web services interface to HBFs
i-911 Solution.
Subscriber calls 9-1-1
VSPs soft switch routes the call to HBFs
session border controller. ONE STEP and youre
done. HBF takes the 9-1-1 call from here,
determines call routing (PSAP or PSAP/ESN) and
assigns appropriate ESRN and ESQK.
HBFs i-911 delivers the call to the Emergency
Services Gateway (ESGW).
ESGW delivers the call to the correct selective
router.
Selective Router delivers the call to the correct
PSAP.
PSAP queries their ALI using the HBF assigned
ESQK for the call.
ALI steers a query to i-911s VPC to retrieve
location information.
The dynamic ALI information is delivered back to
the ALI over HBFs ALI/VPC connections and then
back to the PSAP.
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Myth 1 FCC Regulation fixed VoIP 911

• The May 2005 FCC Order for E9-1-1 VoIP puts VoIP
  on par with wireline 9-1-1.
• Address accuracy is not addressed.
• PSAP funding is specifically bypassed.
• PSAP vs. ESN routing, pANI administration, and
  other barriers to E9-1-1 deployment are not
  addressed.
• To date, there is been little/no FCC enforcement.

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Myth 2 NENA to the rescue

• The NENA i2 standard will standardize VoIP
  9-1-1.
• NENA is not a standards development organization,
  thus i2 is a design specification, not a
  standard.
• Each of the three VPCs has implemented different
  flavors of i2. Hopefully this has minimal impact
  on PSAPs and VSPs.
• It does provide a common ground so it is better
  than no standard at all.

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Myth 3 An interim solution

• NENA i2 is an interim solution.
• Depends on your definition of interim.
  Traditional ALI and i2 will likely co-exist for
  6-10 years
• Migration to i3 will require LOTS of money.
• However, imagine the possibilities of an IP
  enabled PSAP.
• The network becomes responsible for location.
• Be prepared for a mixed environment with three
  modes of 9-1-1 (traditional, i2, and i3).

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Myth 4 Subscriber locations are valid

• VoIP registered addresses are MSAG valid.
• There is no FCC requirement for MSAG
  validationyet. Some PSAPs are requirement MSAG
  validation.
• Access to MSAG data is not universal. Some ILECs
  charge for it others wont give it up at all.
• At a minimum, all three VPC solutions perform
  postal validation.
• There is a huge need for consolidated Validation
  Data Bases (VDBs) and ESZ Routing Data Bases
  (ERDBs) to facilitate validation by
  non-carriers.

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Myth 5 VoIP Nationwide E9-1-1

• VoIP E9-1-1 will have a nationwide footprint.
• There is current nationwide delivery capability,
  just not enhanced.
• Enhanced Delivery over 911 network with valid
  location and call back number
• Basic Delivery over 911 network with NO valid
  location and NO call back number
• VoIP E9-1-1 will likely never happen due to
  technical limitations outside of VoIP (Selective
  Router access, ALI steering, PSAP limitations,
  etc.)
• Do we need to provide for VoIP E9-1-1 if there is
  no broadband?

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Myth 69-1-1 Service Fees

• Collection and disbursement of VoIP Fees at is
  inevitable.
• Without funding, the public safety community be
  broke(r).
• PSAP funding is specifically bypassed in FCC
  05-116.
• PSAP vs. ESN routing, pANI administration, and
  other barriers to E9-1-1 deployment are not
  addressed. To date, there is been little/no FCC
  enforcement.

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Myth 6(continued) 9-1-1 Service Fees

• Assess 9-1-1 surcharge on broadband connections.
• Many telephone lines will never be used to place
  a 9-1-1 call (fax machines, modems, remote
  telemetry devices, etc) but surcharge is assessed
  because capability must be maintained.
• Same logic applies to broadband Internet access
  connections. PSAP authorities must take steps
  (and spend money) to establish and maintain 9-1-1
  capability.

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Myth 6(continued) 9-1-1 Service Fees

• Most broadband access is provided by telephone
  companies (DSL) and CATV companies (cable modem).
  Most CATV also operate as CLECs.
• These entities already collect 9-1-1 surcharges.
  It should not be a hardship to expand collections
  to broadband access connections.

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Myth 7 Notification Education

• FCC required Customer Notification solves the
  consumer education issue.
• No amount of education will get the average
  consumer to understand the nuances of 9-1-1.
• Providers need to help educate their customers,
  and consumers will need to take responsibility to
  stay educated.

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Myth 8 They dont know where they are

• Subscriber-provided registered address location
  information is the Achilles heel of VoIP E9-1-1.
• In the past, customers never had to worry about
  updating their location before making a 9-1-1
  call. Even with wireless, the network (not the
  caller) provides a majority of the location data.
• Most commercially available VoIP solutions rely
  on the accuracy and timeliness of customer
  supplied location information.

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Myth 9 VPCs only needed for nomadic

• A service provider only needs to use a VPC if you
  are offering nomadic service
• You need a VPC is you are offering foreign
  NPA-Nxx numbers (e.g., a NYC 212 TN in Texas)
• You need a VPC is you are supporting remote users
  / locations
• Telecommuters
• Multiple branches from a single IP-PBX

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Myth 10 All solutions are the same

• All VPCs are the same
• Differences in address provisioning
• Demand real time address validation
• Demand SOAP-based web service
• Differences in network requirements
• Reject any solution that requires multiple
  dedicated circuits
• Difference in call handling
• Do you really want to be responsible for call
  monitoring and contingency routing?
• Difference in business execution
• Dont be guilty by association with a VPC that
  agitates the public safety community with war
  dial testing.

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Want To Learn More?

• HBF / 9-1-1 Services is located at Booth 226
• www.hbfgroup.com
• jshepard_at_hbfgroup.com
• 512-481-0911