What does this mean for your business?

What is Kari’s Law?
On February 16, 2018, Kari’s Law was signed into federal law.  Named for Kari Hunt Dunn, the law was championed by her family after she was fatally killed and her 9 year old daughter was unable to reach emergency services because she didn’t know she had to dial “9” to reach an outside line before calling 911 at the hotel where they were staying.

There are two parts to Kari’s Law that affect businesses with multi-line telephone systems (MLTS):

No “9” for 911 Calls
Kari’s Law will require that any MLTS will allow callers to reach emergency services via 911 without the need to dial a prefix for an outside number first.  All organizations using a multi-line phone system will need to update their phone configurations accordingly.

Notifications
Kari’s Law also requires MLTS organizations to implement notifications to on-site personnel that 911 has been dialed and from where it was dialed.  These notifications can be sent via email, SMS/Text, messenger service or phone call.  This will allow on-site personnel to know there is an emergency and provide first aid if able, and also to escort emergency personnel to where they are needed.

The FCC adopted a Report and Order on August 1, 2019 that specifies the above rules for Kari’s Law, and also for Section 506 of Ray Baum’s Act.

Ray Baum’s Act:  Dispatchable Location
Created in order to more accurately locate 9-1-1 callers, the FCC has been working to incorporate E911 into all communication systems in the country.  The recent Report and Order seeks to ensure all MLTS phones automatically provide the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with a “dispatchable location” of the caller.  In environments such as school campuses, warehouses, multi-floor buildings and hotels, it can be difficult to find the location of the person in distress.  Ray Baum’s Act will improve access to emergency services for anyone who dials 911.

Compliance Deadlines
Organizations with MLTS must comply with the mandates of Kari’s Law by February 2020, and the deadline for Ray Baum’s Act compliance (for both on-premise and off-premise 911 calls) is two years from the effective date of rules adopted by this order.

Any business or agency who does not comply with Kari’s Law could face a fine of up to $10,000 in addition to other penalties, including a daily fine of up to $500 each day they are found not in compliance.

What do Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act mean to you?
How can your organization manage its legal obligations most effectively?  Get started soon and don’t go it alone. ippbxHOST has voice integration experts who can support your phone configurations to comply with the 911 requirements going into effect.  Our service will provide you with the location and notification functionality you need. There may be multiple ways for you to achieve compliance.

Give us a call
Ready to get moving towards compliance? We can help you determine what your best options are call us today!

Source:  https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-improves-access-911-and-timely-assistance-first-responders-0