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Technology Trips Over 911 Call
Posted by : pbc.madler on Friday, February 04, 2005 - 06:07 PM
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08:12 AM CST on Friday, February 4, 2005
By Vicente Arenas / KHOU 11 News, Houston
A young girl found out the hard way Thursday that not all phone companies provide a connection to emergency services. As her mother and father were being shot during a home invasion, she tried to call 911, but couldn't get through.
Joyce John tried to call 911, but the Internet phone service her family uses didn't offer that capability. This problem could affect thousands of people who use the Internet for their phone service.
Peter John describes how bullets flew through his home as he and his wife tried to fight off two would-be robbers. "And he point the gun toward me like this. The guy put the gun to my chest. I told him that my daughter's upstairs," said John. "Next thing I know, I hear shots in two or three seconds. She was screaming Joyce, Joyce call the police call 911," said his daughter, Joyce.
She dialed 911, and got this message, "Stop you must dial 911 from another telephone. 911 is not available from this telephone line. No emergency personnel will be dispatched." Her father was already down, shot in the leg and her mother had also been hit. Both were in pools of blood.
"I picked up another phone cause I thought it was the phone's problem. But I picked up another phone and it still didn't work," said Joyce.
The robbers ran, and so did Joyce, to call 911 from a neighbor's house. The 911 Emergency Network says the Peters subscribe to what is known as a voice over Internet provider, or an Internet phone company.
The emergency network recommends that people find out if their providers offer the service. Many Internet phone companies claim to offer huge savings. And it's estimated that as many as 100,000 people in the Harris County area have signed up in the last two months. That's why Harris County's 911 network is starting a campaign asking people to check their Internet phones for 911 service -- before they need it. The Peters wish the warning had come a little sooner.
If you're not sure if you have 911 service, do not call the operators at the 911 emergency center. It is against the law to call 911 just to test it. It is best to call your Internet service provider. Time Warner Cable is reportedly the only provider that offers a full emergency 911 service.
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