Introduction
In 2013, a tragic incident took place in a Texas, USA hotel room where a 9-year-old girl named Kari Hunt was unable to reach emergency services by dialling 911 from the hotel room’s phone. The incident led to the passing of a law called Kari’s Law that mandated all Multi-line Telephone Systems (MLTS) to enable direct dialling to emergency services without requiring an additional prefix, such as 9 or any other number, to access an outside line. In 2018, RAY BAUM’s Act was passed, which expanded the requirements of Kari’s Law to include VoIP and other internet-based phone services.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act, their impact on VoIP systems, and the compliance requirements for organizations.
What is Kari’s Law?
Kari’s Law was named after Kari Hunt, who was murdered in 2013 by her estranged husband in a Texas hotel room. Kari’s 9-year-old daughter attempted to call 911 several times from the hotel room but was unsuccessful in getting through because she didn’t know that she needed to dial a ‘9’ to reach an outside line.
Kari’s Law was signed into law in 2018 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The law mandates that all MLTS, including those used in hotels, offices, and other public spaces, must allow users to directly dial emergency services without requiring any additional prefix or code.
The law applies to any organization that uses MLTS in the United States. The purpose of Kari’s Law is to ensure that people can quickly reach emergency services without any hindrance, which can save lives in emergency situations.
What is RAY BAUM’s Act?
RAY BAUM’s Act was passed in 2018 and is named after Ray Baum, a former commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) who passed away in 2018. The law expands the scope of Kari’s Law to include VoIP, which is a type of internet-based phone service.
The law mandates that all VoIP service providers must allow users to directly dial 911 without requiring any additional prefix or code. Additionally, the law requires VoIP providers to transmit location information to emergency services so that they can quickly locate the caller in case of an emergency.
RAY BAUM’s Act also requires the US FCC (United States Federal Communications Commission) to establish a registry of dispatchable locations, which are locations that can be quickly identified and located by emergency services. The registry will include the physical address of the caller, as well as any other relevant information that can help emergency services quickly locate the caller in case of an emergency.
How do Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act impact VoIP?
Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act have a significant impact on VoIP systems.
- VoIP service providers are now required to provide direct access to emergency services without requiring any additional prefix or code. This means that users can simply dial 911 to reach emergency services, just like they would on a traditional phone line.
- VoIP service providers are now required to transmit location information to emergency services. This means that emergency services can quickly locate the caller in case of an emergency, which can save lives in critical situations.
- VoIP service providers must also comply with the FCC’s registry of dispatchable locations. This means that they must provide accurate and up-to-date information about the caller’s location to emergency services, which can help them quickly locate the caller in case of an emergency.
What are the compliance requirements for organizations?
Organizations that use MLTS or VoIP systems must comply with K’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act to ensure that they are providing their employees and customers with the ability to directly dial emergency services and transmit accurate location information in case of an emergency.
For MLTS systems, organizations must ensure that their systems are configured to allow direct dialing to 911 without requiring any additional prefix or code. Additionally, they must provide notification to their employees and guests about the ability to directly dial emergency services without the need for an additional prefix or code.
For VoIP systems, organizations must ensure that their service providers are compliant with RAY BAUM’s Act. This means that their service providers must provide direct access to 911 without requiring any additional prefix or code and must transmit accurate location information to emergency services.
Organizations must also ensure that they have a plan in place to notify their employees and customers about the ability to directly dial emergency services and how to do so. This can include providing training to employees and posting notices in public spaces where MLTS or VoIP systems are used.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Organizations that fail to comply with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act can face significant consequences. The FCC has the authority to issue fines and penalties to organizations that are found to be non-compliant.
For example, in 2020, the FCC fined a hotel chain $25,000 for failing to provide direct access to 911 from their MLTS system. The hotel chain was found to be requiring guests to dial ‘9’ before dialing 911, which violated Kari’s Law.
Non-compliance with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act can also have serious consequences in emergency situations. If employees or guests are unable to directly dial emergency services or transmit accurate location information, it can delay the response time of emergency services and potentially put lives at risk.
Conclusion
Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act have had a significant impact on the use of MLTS and VoIP systems in the United States. These laws have mandated that organizations provide their employees and customers with the ability to directly dial emergency services and transmit accurate location information in case of an emergency.
Compliance with these laws is crucial to ensure the safety of employees and customers and to avoid potential fines and penalties. Organizations that use MLTS or VoIP systems must ensure that they are compliant with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act and have a plan in place to notify their employees and customers about the ability to directly dial emergency services.
As technology continues to advance and organizations adopt new communication systems, it is important that these systems prioritize safety and emergency response. Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act have set important standards for the use of MLTS and VoIP systems in the United States and have helped to ensure that emergency services are able to respond quickly and effectively in case of an emergency.
However, it is important to note that these laws only apply in the United States. Organizations operating in other countries should research the laws and regulations in their respective countries to ensure that they are providing adequate emergency response capabilities.
In addition, it is important for organizations to stay up-to-date on any changes or updates to Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act. As technology continues to evolve, these laws may be updated to reflect new standards and best practices.
Overall, Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act are important pieces of legislation that prioritize safety and emergency response in the use of communication systems. By complying with these laws, organizations can help to ensure the safety of their employees and customers in case of an emergency.