QUICK GUIDE

Bandwidth’s guide to E911 Regulations

You’ll Learn:
  • What Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act are
  • Who the new E911 laws impact, and how to manage compliance
  • 6 steps to take for emergency compliance

Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act have altered the requirements for your business and how you manage your 911 solutions. Adhering to these new regulations is not only about being in legal compliance, but about protecting your employees in the case of an emergency.

Make sure your employees have the tools to place a successful 911 call with this free quick guide and checklist.

Understanding E911 regulations amidst your hybrid workforce

Maintaining compliance with the FCC’s emergency regulations is complex—and it gets even more complicated if you’re providing emergency services for a nomadic or hybrid workforce.

In this quick guide, we’ll cover:

What is Kari’s Law?

Driven largely by the efforts of Kari Dunn’s father following the murder of his daughter, Kari’s Law was signed into effect on February 16, 2018. 

What are Kari’s Law requirements?

Kari’s Law applies to multi-line telephone systems (“MLTS”) “manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed” after the compliance date of February 16, 2020. This requires:

  1. Prohibiting a required “prefix” when calling 911. Locations with MLTS must remove requirements that a caller dial “9”, “8”, or any other number to reach an outside line in order to place a call to 911. 
  2. On-site notifications. When a 911 call is placed from an MLTS, a notification must be sent to on-site personnel, alerting them of the emergency. Notifications to the appropriate contact can take the form of phone calls, visual alerts on a monitor, audible alarms, text messages, and/or emails.
  3. Ensure effective call-back numbers are delivered. 911 dispatchers need to be able to reconnect with the 911 caller if a 911 call is terminated or interrupted. This shouldn’t be the main number of your office, because this could connect the dispatcher to a receptionist or auto attendant. 

Section 506 of RAY BAUM’s Act

RAY BAUM’s Act was passed into law on March 23, 2018. Section 506 required the FCC to ensure that MLTS systems provide dispatchable addresses to public safety with a 911 call.

On August 2, 2019 the FCC released its Report and Order that adopted such rules and concluded its proceeding as directed by Section 506.  

The dispatchable address must include the street address of the calling party, and should also include additional information such as suite, room number, floor, or other information needed to quickly locate the calling party.

What does Section 506 of RAY BAUM’s Act cover?

Section 506 of RAY BAUM’s Act requires that organizations with MLTS provide dispatchable location, i.e., street address, floor, room and/or suite number (if applicable) to public safety with 911 calls.

There were two separate implementation phases of RAY BAUM’s Act: 

  1. January 6, 2021 – Fixed VoIP: The first deadline focused on providing dispatchable locations for employees using on-premise, fixed devices associated with MLTS.
  2. January 6, 2022 – Non-fixed VoIP: The second deadline focused on providing accurate dispatchable locations for nomadic employees using wireless, mobile devices. 

Are you impacted by Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act?

Both laws impact enterprises using multi-line telephone systems (MTLS), such as:

  • Companies with multiple office locations
  • Campuses, including K-12, universities, and colleges
  • Hospitals
  • Hotels
  • Retail facilities
  • Financial institutions
  • Warehouses

What this means for your enterprise

Managing 911 requires a full understanding of legal and regulatory risks. Potential risk exposures occur when enterprises:

After February 16, 2020, enterprises not compliant with Kari’s Law are at risk.

After January 6, 2022, enterprises not compliant with Section 506 of RAY BAUM’s Act are at risk. 

Your 911 regulatory checklist

Keep reading

Unlock the 911 compliance checklist