In the U.S., FCC rules require every telephone that can physically access the network to be able to dial 911, regardless of any reason that normal service may have been disconnected (including non-payment). On wired (land line) phones, this usually is accomplished by a "soft" dial tone, which sounds normal, but will only allow emergency calls. Often, an unused and unpublished phone number will be issued to the line so that it will work properly.
Did anyone notice the comment about "5 alarm blaze" and then take a close look at the website that this is posted on? Who the hell is consumeraffairs.com? The site's main page looks a bit iffy, and there is ZERO information about exactly who they are.This might be some site that accepts any old crap "press releases" announced by anyone. What's with the comment about "a deadline of Oct 2005". That was 5 months ago? How old is this "article"? And where the heck is the attribution for this ditty? Absolutely no source reference for the story.I call bulls**t/shenanigans.
they do have 911, it just has to be set up properly before hand. that set up time is where a lot of human error comes into play . . . it's more or less a young 20something, $13.00 / hour customer service rep in holmdel, nj who's keying in your information and calling around your local area to see who has juridiction of police, fire fighters, ems, etc.little things like newly updated zip codes or old maps or towns with multiple names that can effect things and that 20something customer service rep in holmdel, nj may not know how things roll in kansas or california or utah or florida . ..
haha, this is kind of funnyI can't help but think that someone at vonage dugg this article (hell they probably wrote it! lol). I think it's pretty clear that the audience Digg provides to them is right in line with their customer base and blaming Vonage for this incident clearly doesn't hold water for anyone with half a brain.What do they say? "There's no such thing as bad publicity."
Here in Baltimore County a fire-box (1 alarm) is 4 engines, a truck and an ambulance. Each additional alarm will add 2-3 engines, another truck or squad (lighting, tools etc). It makes no sense to me why they would have a 5 alarm fire. We had a huge warehouse fire here about 8 months ago that went to five alarms, but had a lot of apparatus staged (waiting) as there just wasn't enough room to move around. So, at least here, the number alarms is not the number of stations, but the number of sets of apparatus.So, why they had a 5 alarm fire for a house, don't know.
satchMar 23, 2006
i see the same "vonage saves" banner.i laughed my ass off.
bristolzMar 23, 2006
In the U.S., FCC rules require every telephone that can physically access the network to be able to dial 911, regardless of any reason that normal service may have been disconnected (including non-payment). On wired (land line) phones, this usually is accomplished by a "soft" dial tone, which sounds normal, but will only allow emergency calls. Often, an unused and unpublished phone number will be issued to the line so that it will work properly.
ckedgeMar 23, 2006
Did anyone notice the comment about "5 alarm blaze" and then take a close look at the website that this is posted on? Who the hell is consumeraffairs.com? The site's main page looks a bit iffy, and there is ZERO information about exactly who they are.This might be some site that accepts any old crap "press releases" announced by anyone. What's with the comment about "a deadline of Oct 2005". That was 5 months ago? How old is this "article"? And where the heck is the attribution for this ditty? Absolutely no source reference for the story.I call bulls**t/shenanigans.
slantyeyedMar 24, 2006
they do have 911, it just has to be set up properly before hand. that set up time is where a lot of human error comes into play . . . it's more or less a young 20something, $13.00 / hour customer service rep in holmdel, nj who's keying in your information and calling around your local area to see who has juridiction of police, fire fighters, ems, etc.little things like newly updated zip codes or old maps or towns with multiple names that can effect things and that 20something customer service rep in holmdel, nj may not know how things roll in kansas or california or utah or florida . ..
canadianguy33Mar 24, 2006
haha, this is kind of funnyI can't help but think that someone at vonage dugg this article (hell they probably wrote it! lol). I think it's pretty clear that the audience Digg provides to them is right in line with their customer base and blaming Vonage for this incident clearly doesn't hold water for anyone with half a brain.What do they say? "There's no such thing as bad publicity."
jpesicka2Mar 24, 2006
it's funny about the vonage dude right? it's sure as hell not funny about the house if that's what you mean.
brechmosMar 24, 2006
Here in Baltimore County a fire-box (1 alarm) is 4 engines, a truck and an ambulance. Each additional alarm will add 2-3 engines, another truck or squad (lighting, tools etc). It makes no sense to me why they would have a 5 alarm fire. We had a huge warehouse fire here about 8 months ago that went to five alarms, but had a lot of apparatus staged (waiting) as there just wasn't enough room to move around. So, at least here, the number alarms is not the number of stations, but the number of sets of apparatus.So, why they had a 5 alarm fire for a house, don't know.
eth3lMar 24, 2006
Update:911 operators leave phones ringing:<a class="user" href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/24/tennessee.911.ap/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/24/tennessee.911.ap/index.html</a>Lets not pick on VoIP!
kevincw01Mar 24, 2006
story brought to you by verizon and mci...