AT&T has said that it would disconnect the service of AT&T CallVantage VoIP telephone subscribers who relocate their VoIP equipment and do not update their physical location.

The move is AT&T’s response to an FCC ruling that all interconnected VoIP providers offer access to enhanced 911 services by Nov. 28.

Under the ruling, carriers must determine the physical location of each subscriber, and currently, the only way to do this is to request the information from the subscriber.

AT&T will detect when the VoIP telephone adapter has been disconnected and reconnected, and request updated address information from the subscriber. If the subscriber fails to update the address, or confirm that the phone is still at the same location, AT&T will suspend all service, except 911 service, to the phone.

“If the customer confirms that she has moved her service from the existing registered location address, service will remain suspended until she registers a new primary location address,” Robert Quinn, AT&T vice president for federal government affairs, said in an Oct. 7 letter to the FCC.

The subscriber still would be able to dial 911, according to Quinn. However, AT&T said there is not yet a way to confirm the customer’s location.

“This is the best technology has to offer at this time,” AT&T spokeswoman Claudia Jones said. The FCC has said it eventually plans to require carriers to provide the customer’s location on their own. — Reuters

Okay, end of the news. You have no idea where the adapter is, so you suspend all service and only allow 911 calls? I think that’s a little backwards. Unfortunately, the FCC ruling doesn’t give any leeway in this circumstance.

And yes, the FCC extended that deadline again.