Texas Sues No. 1 Internet Phone Firm
Texas sued the nation's largest Internet-based phone service provider Tuesday, saying Edison-based Vonage failed to clearly inform customers they cannot automatically dial 911 when they sign up.
The lawsuit follows a case last month in which a 17-year-old Houston girl was unable to call 911 on her family's Vonage service during an armed robbery in which her parents were shot and wounded. The girl ran to a neighbor's house and called for help.
"People find out too late that this service might not be available," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. "No one who signs up for this service will get the same kind of 911 service they get with a regular land line. Vonage needs to be clear up front about that and not mislead their consumers about the quality of service."
The lawsuit was filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and seeks to require Vonage Holdings Corp. to more clearly inform consumers that they must separately sign up for the 911 feature.
