The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has backed off itsearlier requirement that Internet telephony providers must cut offexisting customers if they do not have enhanced 911 emergency dialingservice.In a policy statement released late Monday, the FCC said VOIP (voiceover Internet Protocol) providers do not have to cut off customers ifthey have not met an FCC deadline to provide enhanced 911, or E911,service by Nov. 28. E911 service pinpoints the street address of a 911call coming into an emergency dispatch center. However, some VOIPproviders had raised concerns that E911 would be hard to implement withVOIP phones that keep their telephone numbers wherever they are pluggedinto the Internet.However, the FCC’s Monday statement tells VOIP providers they shouldstop marketing their service to customers if they cannot provide E911service. “We do expect that such providers [not offering E911] willdiscontinue marketing VOIP service, and accepting new customers fortheir service, in all areas where they are not transmitting 911 calls,”the FCC policy statement said.VOIP providers and some U.S. lawmakers had questioned the FCC’sdecision to cut off service, saying service interruptions would leaveVOIP customers with no way to contact emergency dispatch centers. InAugust, the FCC had delayed a requirement that VOIP providers cut offservice from those customers that do not respond to notices telling ofthe limits of 911 service over VOIP. Late last month, VOIP provider Nuvio Corp. filed a court challenge tothe Nov. 28 deadline, set in June. The FCC’s short deadline was”arbitrary and capricious,” said Jason Talley, president and chiefexecutive officer of Nuvio, a VOIP provider based in Kansas.While the FCC’s action Monday backed away from the service cut-offrequirement, Talley objected to the ruling that VOIP providers stopmarketing service when they cannot provide E911. That decision willhurt VOIP providers trying to compete with large telecom carriersoffering traditional phone service, he said. “It smacks of protectionism of the [large telecom carriers] and thecable companies,” Talley said of the marketing rules. “It’s the FCCpicking and choosing which technologies they want to support and whichtechnologies they want to succeed.”By Grant Gross – IDG News Service (Washington Bureau) Related content news UK government plans 2,500 new tech recruits by 2025 with focus on cybersecurity New apprenticeships and talent programmes will support recruitment for in-demand roles such as cybersecurity technologists and software developers By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Education Industry Education Industry Education Industry news UK data regulator orders end to spreadsheet FOI requests after serious data breaches The Information Commissioner’s Office says alternative approaches should be used to publish freedom of information data to mitigate risks to personal information By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 3 mins Government Cybercrime Data and Information Security feature Cybersecurity startups to watch for in 2023 These startups are jumping in where most established security vendors have yet to go. By CSO Staff Sep 29, 2023 19 mins CSO and CISO Security news analysis Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules New Securities and Exchange Commission cyber incident reporting rules don't kick in until December, but experts say they highlight the need for greater collaboration between CISOs and the C-suite By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 28, 2023 6 mins Regulation Data Breach Financial Services Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe