VoIP providers must offer customers' numbers to 9-1-1

OTTAWA – The CRTC is requiring nomadic and fixed/non-native VoIP service providers to make their customers’ telephone numbers available to 9-1-1 operators.In a policy released late last week, the Commission said that the operators must use the numbers provided as a last resort to re-establish contact with a 9-1-1 caller when the call is disconnected before the caller’s location has been determined.VoIP providers have 9 months to implement the capability, and Canadian carriers providing service to VoIP providers must include the requirement in their service contracts.www.crtc.gc.ca