NCJ Number
209678
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 72 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 146,148,149
Date Published
April 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the background of "Voice over Internet Protocol" (VoIP), a term used to describe voice conversations through data networks (Internet and intranets), and examines its implications for public safety agencies.
Abstract
Voice conversations over the Internet began as a way for individuals to communicate while accessing their network-connected computers. The telephone industry began to adapt or adopt protocols that would allow voice conversations to be sent as data packets, so as to improve the voice service performance on these networks. VoIP technology presents challenges to the ability of public safety agencies to obtain caller number, identification, and location information at 911 answering points. It also presents legal and technical challenges to traditional lawfully authorized intercepts of telephone calls. With the increasing commercialization of VoIP for public safety wireless communications, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council is currently discussing the value of standardizing VoIP use in public safety communications. Currently, interagency partnerships are working to develop a structured approach that will enable the public safety community to advance with the available technology (VoIP) while ensuring that agencies which use the technology will be interoperable. This article advises police chiefs to move slowly in adapting Private Wireless Internet Protocol solutions that are being marketed to their agencies. Under these measures, the agency may achieve the ability to communicate with other agencies but with limited interoperability. Instead, chiefs should be patient in seeking standardized Private Wireless solutions being addressed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, CommTech, and Project Safecom.