Summary
- E911 connects your phone number to your physical address for fast emergency response.
- You MUST provide VentureTel with your accurate, up-to-date address. Update this information immediately whenever you move.
- E911 may not work during power outages or network problems.
- Inaccurate E911 records can lead to delayed or misdirected emergency help, putting you and others at risk.
- Regularly test that your E911 address registered with VentureTel is correct.
Policy
VentureTel 911 service is different from traditional 911 and cellular/wireless 911 services. When you dial 911 from your cellular or landline phone the address is sent to the local emergency center serving your location. Emergency operators have the ability to view this information in order to send help and call you back if necessary.
When dialing 911 with your VentureTel VoIP device, you will be dialing 911 over the internet and therefore there is no fixed geographic location to be communicated to 911 operators to tell them where you are located. VentureTel is capable of sending address details to 911 operators by utilizing e911 for VoIP, to accomplish this when purchasing a VentureTel phone number you are required to enter a physical 911 address where you will be using the number. During this process you will enter an address and then confirm that it is a valid address from a list registered with your local emergency center. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE ACCURACY OF THE ADDRESS PROVIDED. FAILURE TO ACCURATELY LIST THE ADDRESS MAY PREVENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE and incur a $100 penalty for dialing 911 without a valid e911 address..
It may take up to 24 hours to verify your address and activate 911 services. You should use alternate sources to dial 911 services until you can confirm that your 911 service has been activated and is accurately listed. To confirm activation of your 911 service and accuracy of your e911 address, dial 933 from the VentureTel VoIP device to hear a recorded message verifying the address registered to that device. Do not dial 911 to test your 911 service. Dialing 911 when there is no emergency may subject you to criminal penalties.
Even though you enter a valid 911 address and verify the address against the local 911 address list, and confirm the address by dialing 933, your local emergency center may not be equipped to receive, capture, or retain your VentureTel telephone number and registered address automatically. You must always be prepared to give them this information.
You may register only one location at a time per phone number. Each VoIP device connected to the VentureTel network should be assigned a e911 phone number if different than the accounts primary number. If you move a VoIP device to another location you must update the e911 number assigned to it and ensure it has the appropriate e911 address. If you do not update your location, your 911 calls may be sent to an emergency center near your old address. Any time you change the 911 address you should expect an activation delay up to 24 hours. Please be prepared to use an alternate source to dial 911 services during that time.
Please note that 911 service will not function in the event of an Internet or power outage or if your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or VentureTel phone service is terminated.