FCC Pushes VoIP Subscriber Acknowledgement Deadline to October

The FCC once again has extended the deadline requiring VoIP service providers to get acknowledgement from subscribers that they might not have access to E911 calling.

The commission in August had threatened to cut off subscribers who had not responded, but changed that deadline to Sept. 29. Yesterday, the group said VoIP providers now have until Oct. 31 to prove they have contacted, and received acknowledgement from, users.

The FCC said many providers have notified subscribers of the limitations of their 911 service and “obtained acknowledgements from nearly all, if not all, their subscribers. … [T]he September reports indicate that at least 21 providers have received acknowledgments from 100 percent of their subscribers and at least 32 others have obtained acknowledgements from 90 percent or more of their subscribers,” the FCC noted in a news release.

Commissioners said because providers’ efforts have proven “substantial,” it would not pursue enforcement action against those that have not yet reported full subscriber acknowledgement. “We do, however, expect these providers will continue seeking the remaining acknowledgements and will notify the commission once they have achieved 100 [percent] compliance,” the commissioners said in the news release.

Vonage America, a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp., meanwhile, said it had gained affirmative acknowledgement from nearly 99 percent of its customers, but still has 10,000 that have not responded.

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