House Commerce Committee chair Joe Barton (R-Tex.) has floated new legislation titled the “Communications, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006″ that is aimed at the TV industry, but which also contains a provision that would require VoIP providers to offer full E911 service to their customers. Up to now VoIP providers have been mandated by the FCC under regulations that were less specific. Besides the E911 mandate, the bill says that VoIP providers “have the same rights, duties and obligations as a requesting telecommunications carriers” under the Communications Act of 1934, which provides the company’s with certain liability exemptions. That, in turn, should allow them to provide E911 service sooner. Download (pdf) the proposed bill, or read Rep. Barton’s explanation of the bill.
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