No one wants to be put into a situation that requires calling 911, but when someone is required to reach emergency services for help, there should be nothing that gets in their way. Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM'S Act help reduce the chances of technical struggles when calling for help.
For example, if someone is having a medical emergency and they require immediate medical assistance, what happens if their phone doesn’t transmit the caller’s location accurately? Even worse, what if the call could not be made in the first place because the caller didn’t know an extension was needed to call an outside line? Wasted time in these situations could make a difference between life and death.
Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM'S Act implement new legislation to eliminate these types of calling issues; see what is required of your telephone system to be compliant.
What is Kari’s Law?
Kari’s Law was established because of a domestic abuse incident that resulted in Kari Hunt losing her life. Her 9-year-old daughter witnessed the event at the motel that they were staying at and tried dialing 911 four separate times. Unfortunately, she never got through to the dispatch center because the motel’s phone system required dialing “9” before making any outbound calls.
Kari’s Law is outlined in FCC 19-76 which was released on August 2, 2019 and made effective on February 16, 2020. The law places obligations on multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) and the companies who manufacture, import, sell, and/or lease them. To comply with Kari’s Law there must be a setting on the MLTS that allows for the user of the telephone system to be able to dial 911 without any additional digit or code to make the call.
What is RAY BAUM'S Act?
Under RAY BAUM's Act, MLTS’s are required to ensure that a “dispatchable location” is sent to emergency personnel when calling 911. This information must consist of a validated street address and additional information such as a suite, apartment number, or similar details that would help find the caller as quickly as possible. This would apply to all multi-dwelling locations that share the same address such as hotels, apartments, dormitories and cabins.
Additionally, RAY BAUM'S Act will apply all to mobile devices on January, 6th 2022. This is especially important for businesses with corporate VOIP users that travel frequently or work remotely.
Ensuring Your Company is Fully E-911 Compliant
Having your MLTS compliant with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM'S Act should be a top priority of your IT team. Not only could there be legal ramifications if the changes are not implemented, but it also ensures that your employees are safe if there were to ever be an emergency.
This is one of many reasons why we recommend RingCentral to our clients. Their communication solutions are compliant with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM'S Act while also adhering to other important industry standards such as HIPAA and FINRA.
If you want to learn more about E-911 compliance or have questions regarding Kari’s Law and/or RAY BAUM'S Act, contact us today!
If you enjoyed this article you may also enjoy:
