Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[zzd <zzd AT contentdb.net>]

The recent discussion about whether Time Warners digital phone service 
provided 911 got me thinking that should I need it, will it be there? So I 
picked up the phone and dialled 911... "We cannot connect the number as 
dialed, please check the number and try again."

Since this was at odds with TW's claim, I sent them an email asking them what 
I need to do, if anything, to get 911 to work. This is the email I sent to 
them from a non-road runner email account

<email>
How does one dial 911 in an emergency using your VoIP service? I just tried 
dialling 911 and got a message "we cannot connect the number as dialed...".

Craig Duncan
</email>

Note that I did not provide a contact phone number. Yet, the next morning I 
recieved a call from a TW technician asking about how I dailed 911 and if 
everything else was working ok. Shortly thereafter, he called back and left a 
message to let me know that the problem was resolved and that I should have 
911 service.

So, I picked up the phone and dialed 911... This time I was immediately 
connected to the emergency operator. I told the operator that I was 
conducting a test and he verified my name and address etc - perfect!

If you are considering installing some form of VoIP service to augment or 
replace your bell phone line, can I suggest that you test your 911 service 
just to be sure that it is working. Perhaps waiting until mid-afternoon to 
conduct this test might be helpful too as this is usually a time with fewer 
emergencies than say 9am.

So far I have been very pleased with the VoIP service from TW and in 
particular the outstanding customer service (try getting someone from bell 
south to contact you without providing a phone number.) One point of note: 
there is a slight time lag on calls to some cellular phones reminiscent of 
the old days when calling overseas, but not enough for me to complain about. 
Calls to Canada and Scotland are (free and) clear and without any time lag.

YMMV

-- 
Z