Many organizations who aren't aware of the laws surrounding 911 often ask the question, why is E911 compliance and testing so important? The short answer is to prevent loss of life and allow first responders to reach 911 callers quickly and efficiently.
An organization first must comply with Kari's Law & Ray Baum's Act and also continuously test their 911 calling capabilities to ensure calls are routed to the correct public safety answering point (PSAP).
Kari's Law
First, your phone system must allow a user to dial 911 without any prefix or access codes. Next, a notification must be sent when 911 is called, including information about the caller, where they are, and a phone number to reach them. Last, a valid callback number (not the main company phone number) must be provided when 911 is called.
Ray Baum's Act
Ray Baum's Act requires a dispatchable location to be included when 911 is called. A dispatchable location begins with the building's street address plus additional information such as room number, floor number, and other relevant information to help first responders find the caller. 9Line inserts this additional information in real-time and displays it on the screen of the 911 dispatcher.
Any organization unsure if they have completed all the above steps or unsure how to properly test their phone system may contact a 9Line representative for assistance.
