[cisco-voip] Transmitting ALI data from Emergency Responder?

[Candace Holman]

It's a bit off topic for this list but may be the only place where hands-on
VoIP/E911 projects might be discussed, so I'd like to hear what others say
too.

There are whole companies devoted to this task and you are right, it is a
major task and can be a hassle.  It's going to depend on the state-supported
E911 infrastructure you deal with, so look up each state you need to do this
for.  A "selective router" in the e911 infrastructure routes calls to the
proper PSAP and each PSAP has a PS/ALI database.  For example, in
Massachusetts there are 2 selective routers and 278 PSAPs.  The MA PSAPs
have a deal with Verizon to be the only PS/ALI uploader so we had to do our
data uploads through Verizon.  We had to use Kermit over a modem, but I
believe they are updating this process.  You will need to press your service
provider for information, but you have to know the right questions to ask.

We only had to do two PSAPs. Since each state's E911 is run independently,
you're going to have to find out what needs to be done for your case/s.
Within CER you generate the upload files, and may need to tweak them for the
PS/ALI formatting (hopefully not too much). Hint - generate one of each NENA
format and you'll be ready when they tell you you sent it in the wrong
format.

At some point you will need to deal with each PSAP to do testing, so get
prepared and know which ones you'll need to contact.  As a professional
courtesy, you don't want to dial 911 for testing without calling ahead
first.

Here's a Vz link that I think someone on this list posted recently.  It
shows what you should be looking for from your provider, and lets you start
building a list of questions to ask:
http://www22.verizon.com/wholesale/local/E911/1,21070,,00.html

Also check out the NENA website and when you think you need a break from it
all lookup the Next Gen 911 (ECRIT) project being defined in the IETF and
googlable in combination with Henning Schulzrinne's name.  I would be
surprised if Cisco were not all over this at some point in the next year or
two.

Candace

From: "Dark Fiber" <d4rkf1ber at gmail.com>
To: cisco-voip at puck.nether.net
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 15:30:53 -0500

I am curious to find out what others have done in regards to
leveraging emergency responder and more specifically working through
the process for transmitting your ALI info.

Personally I have not had a lot of luck in determing the process from
my service provider.

Like many who have CallManager we have PRI's coming into a main
office, we have satellite offices in many different cities with
different PSAP's and such.  The users have phone numbers tied to a DID
range tied to the PRI's and well 911 is an issue.

We plan to leverage ER to identify phones in those offices and tie
them to an ELIN associated with the address of that office.  Nothing
too detailed or granular.

The primary issue at this point is getting info to the service
provider I guess.  I don't think we are suppose to deal with
individual PSAP's.  My understanding is we are suppose to send info to
the service provider of our PRI's, who is suppose to send the info or
pass it on to PSAPs I guess.

Just looking to hear what others have done regarding this process, the
trials and tribulations if you will of figuring out this aspect of the
whole thing, it does seem to be the most important component of
rolling out ER.

later
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