The ins and outs of E911 and how to comply

So, you’re running a business, likely wearing many hats, and now someone tells you that you need to worry about something called E911 compliance. You scratch your head and think, "Wait...911 is for emergencies, right? What’s with the ‘E’ in front of it, and why does my business need to get involved?"

We’re here to fill you in and dive into this life-saving, legally required topic. Hopefully, making it digestible enough so you become a pro in everything E911, understanding why it’s critical for your business, and how you can stay on the right side of the law.

E911: The upgrade to 911

Back when landlines were the staple of all communication, basic 911 worked just fine. Emergency services could track the address from where you called without hesitation. Then came cell phones, VoIP systems, and all these fancy wireless gadgets, and suddenly, figuring out where that 911 call was coming from got a little trickier.

Enter E911 or Enhanced 911. E911 does more than just route your emergency call to a local dispatch center. It shifts 911 services from old-school analogue to slick, IP-based infrastructure – a crucial digital leap that bypasses the soon-to-be-obsolete Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It transmits additional location data, such as your GPS coordinates, so first responders can find you faster.

Whether you’re calling from a smartphone, a VoIP phone, or your office’s multi-line system, E911 ensures your call is not just heard, but precisely located.

The laws you need to know: Kari's Law & RAY BAUM'S Act

There are two major laws in the U.S. that you need to know about when it comes to E911: Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act.

1. Kari’s Law

Kari’s Law was born out of a tragedy in 2013, where a child couldn’t dial 911 from a hotel room because she didn’t know she had to dial 9 first to get an outside line. After years of fighting, Kari’s Law was passed to make sure anyone, anywhere, can dial 911 directly from a multi-line phone system (MLTS) - like the ones in hotels, offices, and schools - without needing any special prefixes.

If you’ve got a multi-line system, it must allow direct 911 dialling, no prefix needed. And once that 911 call is made, your system needs to alert a designated person - whether it’s your security team, office manager, or you!

2. RAY BAUM’S Act

This law takes things one step further. It requires that dispatchable location data be provided with every 911 call. That means when someone dials 911, the system should provide emergency responders with an exact location - like street address, floor number, and room number - so they’re not wandering around looking for where the emergency is happening.

Your phone system, whether it’s a traditional office setup, VoIP, or a wireless service, needs to provide a precise location so first responders know exactly where to go.

Why is E911 compliance such a headache for businesses?

There are three main reasons why E911 compliance is such a hassle:

1. Different rules in different places: You’ve got federal regulations, state laws, and sometimes even local ordinances. Keeping track of them all feels like trying to juggle while blindfolded.

2. Tech troubles: Many businesses now use softphones or cloud-based communication systems. Ensuring these digital platforms provide accurate location data can be a tough nut to crack. And if your team is remote, well, good luck!

3. Notifications: How do you alert management or security when someone dials 911 from a personal device while at work? It’s not always straightforward.

Why should you bother with E911 compliance?

Aside from the fact that it’s the law, here’s why you really don’t want to skip E911 compliance:

• Your employees' safety: You have a responsibility to keep your staff safe, whether they’re in the office, working from home, or on the road.
• Emergency response time: In an emergency, seconds matter. E911 compliance ensures first responders get where they need to be - fast.
• Avoid legal trouble: Fines, penalties, and even lawsuits can result from non-compliance. And you don’t want to be that company.

So, how do I get compliant?

The good news is that getting compliant isn’t rocket science, but it does require some legwork. Here are a few steps to take:

1. Make sure your phone system allows direct 911 dialling. No prefixes, no extra steps - just direct access.
2. Update your systems. If your communications infrastructure is older than 2020, it might be time for an upgrade. Many newer systems come with built-in E911 compliance features.
3. Work with your vendors. Check that your phone or VoIP provider supports dispatchable location info.
4. Train your staff. Make sure everyone knows how to dial 911, what happens when they do, and how to relay their exact location if needed.
5. Consider Next Gen 911. If you really want to be ahead of the game, Next Generation 911 (NG911) is slowly being rolled out across the US and Canada. Think of it as the new and improved E911 with features like real-time texting, photos, videos, and a sleeker digital infrastructure. It’s not widespread yet, but it’s definitely the future!

Ensure your compliance with Aura

At Aura, we’ve been the go-to experts in communication solutions for over 30 years. When it comes to keeping your business E911 compliant, we’ve got you covered. Our cutting-edge solutions, such as Microsoft Teams Phone, have built-in E911 compliance and are future proofed for the latest tech advances like Next Generation 911 (NG911), meaning we’re ready to support whatever’s next in emergency response tech. We’re here to not only keep you safe and compliant, but ahead of the curve too!

So, whether it’s arming you with the right solutions to ensure your E911 compliance or giving your team the best Microsoft Teams Phone experience, Aura’s got your back. We’ll make sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way!