Are You Compliant?
Ray Baum's Act
Kari's Law
Introduction
Introduction
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KARI'S LAW AND RAY BAUM'S ACT
In August 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules implementing two federal laws that strengthen emergency calling: Kari’s Law and Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act. While there are exceptions to almost every rule, it’s important that technology leaders consider their current collaboration solution and whether or not it meets (or will meet) the mandated requirements.
“While Kari’s Law stipulates inclusion of all MLTS in the US that were manufactured, imported, sold, leased or installed on or after February 17, 2020, organizations with older MLTS solutions still need to be aware. If you upgrade, refresh hardware or make any substantial changes to the system, there’s a very high probability that you will then need to meet the requirements of the law.”
Jonathan Heim
Collaboration Practice Director
OneNeck IT Solutions
Kari's Law
Introduction
Kari's Law
Ray Baum's Act
Are You Compliant?
Kari’s Law is named in memory of Kari Hunt, who lost her life by her estranged husband in a Marshall, TX motel room in 2013. Kari’s young daughter tried multiple times to dial 911 for help, but the call could not go through, as her daughter did not know that she had to dial a 9 to get an outside line. In response to this tragedy, Congress enacted Kari’s Law in 2018, requiring direct 911 dialing and notification capabilities in multi-line telephone systems (MLTS).
The law took effect on February 16, 2020 and requires the following:
MLTS be configured to notify a secondary party (the front desk, security personnel or a designated person) that an emergency call is being placed, and the notification must include:
MLTS be configured so callers can place 911 emergency calls without the need to dial a prefix. To comply with the new law, manufacturers, importers, sellers and lessors must preconfigure systems to enable direct 911 dialing, but can optionally allow other call patterns (e.g., 9-911). Also, those installing, managing and operating MLTS must ensure direct 911 dialing is configured.
Item 1
Item 2
The fact that an emergency call was made.
A call-back number.
Information about location, such as the address and other location information obtained during the 911 call.
Under Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act, an MLTS is defined as “as system comprised of common control units, telephone sets, control hardware and software and adjunct systems, including network and premises based systems, such as Centrex and VoIP, as well as PBX, Hybrid, and Key Telephone Systems (as classified by the Commission under part 68 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations), and includes systems owned or leased by governmental agencies and non-profit entities, as well as profit businesses.” (Source: MLTS FAQs)
What is
MLTS?
Ray Baum's Act
Introduction
Kari's Law
Ray Baum's Act
Are You Compliant?
Under Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act, the FCC adopted rules to ensure that dispatchable location is conveyed with 911 calls to dispatch centers, regardless of the technological platform used, including 911 calls from MLTS.
What is a dispatchable location? It generally refers to enhanced information about the location of a caller within a building (a street address, building number, floor number, room number or similar information) to assist the first responders. The FCC requires that the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) automatically receive the dispatchable location from the MLTS.
MLTS are subject to compliance deadlines of January 6, 2021 and January 6, 2022, depending on the nature of the device from which the MLTS 911 call originates. Device requirements are defined by the Commission as:
(e.g., a cordless office phone) associated with an MLTS must provide automated dispatchable location if technically feasible. Otherwise they must provide either:
dispatchable location provided manually by the end user, or
alternative location information.
(e.g., a wired desk phone) must provide automated dispatchable location.
On-premises, fixed devices associated with an MLTS
On-premises,
non-fixed devices
Off-premises devices associated with an MLTS
Alternative location information may be coordinate-based (latitude and longitude), and must be sufficient to identify the caller’s civic address and approximate in-building location, including floor level, in large buildings.
dispatchable location provided manually by the end user, or
enhanced location information.
must provide automated dispatchable location, if technically feasible. Otherwise they must provide either
Enhanced location information may be coordinate-based, and must consist of the best available location that can be obtained from any available technology or combination of technologies at reasonable cost.
Are you
Compliant?
Introduction
Kari's Law
Ray Baum's Act
Are You Compliant?
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY PHONE SYSTEM?
The Kari’s Law deadline is past, and the RAY BAUM’S Act deadlines are fast approaching. So now is the time to investigate and confirm compliance for any upcoming MLTS investments and determine if existing phone systems need to be updated.
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