What You Need to Know, and Do…NOW

By now, you’ve no doubt heard the term “Enhanced 911” or E911 for short.  But what does it actually mean for your business or organization?  If you are not sure or have not acted as of now, you run the risk of violating federal and state compliance laws.

There are two major federal laws that are now in effect and require your compliance immediately.

The first is Kari’s Law Act of 2017, which went into effect on February 16, 2020 – and requires the following on all new / upgraded telephony systems (to learn more about how Kari’s Law came to be, please read our three-part blog series):

• Direct access to 9-1-1 without an access code (allowing users to dial 9-1-1 directly, without having to dial a prefix such as a “9” to reach an outside line.)
• Routing to the 9-1-1 PSAP (public safety answer point) with no interception (such as a front desk or security office)

The second is the RAY BAUM’S Act 506, which just went into effect on January 6, 2021 and requires a dispatchable location to be delivered for wired devices. A “dispatchable location” is defined as building address and additional data (floor level, room number, etc.) that can locate the caller in a reasonable amount of time. In one year (January 6, 2022) wireless devices will also be required to provide this information.

In addition to facing potentially devastating civil liabilities should a tragedy occur, businesses that fail to comply with these laws risk fines and may be subject to additional penalties for each day they remain non-compliant. With both Kari’s Law and the Ray Baum’s Act now included within the amended Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the power to enforce the rules, assign judgments, and collect penalties.

Since companies have deployed remote workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you must ensure that anyone connected to your network is capable of dialing 9-1-1 without the need for additional digits. Remember, the safety of these employees and any members of a household that may use your organization’s telephony equipment in an emergency could potentially put your company at risk of violating federal law and state laws if it is not compliant with Kari’s Law and The Ray Baum Act. The time to develop and implement an E911 strategy that addresses remote workers is NOW!

So how do you know if your business is E911 compliant now? Altura is here to help you understand which E911 solution offers the best option for your specific needs. We are proud to partner with industry-leading experts that specialize in E911 solutions. Over the next week, we will feature guest blogs from these specialists to assist you in deploying the right E911 solution quickly and easily. Our upcoming blogposts, will discuss how E911 cloud deployments may be the easiest way to ensure compliance for both your physical locations and remote work force.