The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has announced the adoption of 911 rules that will improve emergency response for people who call 911 from multi-line telephone systems, which commonly serve hotels, office buildings, and campuses, as well as other calling platforms. The adoption of these rules implements two laws, Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act, which were enacted last year.
Kari’s Law requires multi-line telephone systems to enable users to dial 911 directly, without having to dial a prefix to reach an outside line. Kari’s Law also requires that when a 911 call is made that multi-line telephone systems provide a notification to location personnel to assist first responders in building entry. RAY BAUM’s Act requires the Commission to ensure that dispatchable location information, such as street addresses and floor levels, are conveyed with 911 calls regardless of the technological platform. Additionally, the FCC has consolidated its 911 rules into a single rule part to help providers more easily understand the 911 requirements.
