Harbor Networks Guide to E911 and NG911 Regulations:
Legislation and requirements around 9-1-1 are ever-changing, and businesses are responsible to ensure their telephone systems are compliant. New provisions such as Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act have been passed to enhance the safety of the public when using Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS) by creating 9-1-1 dialing standards and providing accurate and detailed information to first responders. While regulatory compliance and risk of exposure are important areas to consider, another is the protection of your employees in case of an emergency.
What is Kari’s Law?
- Kari’s Law applies to MLTS manufactured or installed after February 16, 2020. The two main points of the law are:
- Requiring a prefix (such as 9, 8 or any other digit/keypress) when calling 9-1-1 is prohibited.
A notification must be made to alert onsite personnel that a 9-1-1 call was made.
What is RAY BAUM’s Act?
RAY BAUM’s Act requires that first responders have necessary information needed to pinpoint the “Dispatchable location” of a 9-1-1 caller, regardless of the device they dial from.
- Requires organizations with MLTS to provide a dispatchable location such as street address, suite number, floor, and/or room number to emergency services. Think of this as the door that emergency responders would need to enter to find and assist the caller.
- Affects campuses including K-12, colleges and universities, Hospitals, Hotels, Retail facilities, financial institutions, warehouses, or any company with offices in multiple locations, or expansive office space with multiple floors or points of entry.
What can you do?
Managing 911 requires a full understanding of legal and regulatory risk as well as administrative and end user requirements to maintain compliance. While the install date of your telephone system or last major upgrade may “Grandfather” your company and not require you legally to comply at this time, it is widely suggested you do everything possible to ensure the safety of your employees.
- Every customer environment is unique, and aspects of the laws are written ambiguously. It is strongly recommended you engage legal counsel to determine your level of compliance.
- Start mapping out user / endpoint locations and define what could be considered a “Dispatchable Location”.
Make sure to include satellite offices, virtual workers, remote-phone, and/or softphone users.
The number of dispatchable locations will each require a dedicated phone number, and carriers will need to be engaged to associate that number, with both a valid street address and specific location information if applicable. - Contact your PSTN and SIP Carrier providers to map specific numbers to unique dispatchable locations
- Contact your MLTS provider or managing partner to confirm you have capable hardware and software, and to ensure you are doing everything possible to be compliant with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act.
- Make testing 9-1-1 part of your ongoing risk management policy.
Just like checking your smoke detectors at home twice per year, 9-1-1 assurance requires maintenance. Companies should regularly test 9-1-1 and come up with their own compliance standards.
Always consult local authorities and public safety departments prior to testing 9-1-1.
Some carriers may allow you to dial 9-3-3 to test, which delivers automated voice messaging relaying caller name, number, and address.
You are not alone
Complicated regulations and technology standards can seem overwhelming. Harbor Networks is here to help. Please contact us today to discuss your unique voice solution, and how to improve the safety of the valued people who use it.
