# Calling 911 from an unregistered cell phone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-911-from-an-unregistered-cell-phone/550445>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-911-from-an-unregistered-cell-phone/550445 "2010-08-16T20:09:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-911-from-an-unregistered-cell-phone/550445/1 "2010-08-16T20:09:50Z")

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I recently upgraded my phone and donated my old phone to a shelter via my carrier (Sprint).

I was told that carriers can not legally block a 911 call, even from an unregistered phone.

a) Is this true?  
b) Is this federal or state law?

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**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-911-from-an-unregistered-cell-phone/550445/2 "2010-08-16T20:31:08Z")

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Looks like it’s an[FCC](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html) rule. I learned in my first aid class that if you call 911 from an unregistered cell, you have to tell the operator what city/address you are at, and if you are disconnected you have to call them back because they have no way to call you.

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**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-911-from-an-unregistered-cell-phone/550445/3 "2010-08-16T20:50:15Z")

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> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> Looks like it’s an[FCC](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html) rule. .

Thanks.