Publication Type: Statement
Date: 6/24/2008CONTACT: Rob Stoddard/Brian Dietz, 202-222-2350
Background: Yesterday the House of Representatives approved legislation previously approved by the Senate that will require the incumbent Bell companies to interconnect 911and E-911 calls from phone providers that use Voice over Internet Protocol technology.
“This bipartisan legislation approved by Congress ensures that all consumers – including the 16 million cable voice customers – can have confidence that their calls to 911 for emergency service will be answered without regard to who their provider is or what technology they use. We commend the leadership of Chairman Dingell, Chairman Inouye, Ranking Member Barton, Vice Chairman Stevens, Chairman Markey, Ranking Member Stearns, Senators Nelson and Snowe and Representatives Gordon and Pickering for their leadership in protecting public safety and promoting competition in voice services.”
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NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing more than $130 billion to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumers.