Why 9-1-1 Compliance Can’t Wait

Authors: Irwin Lazar, President and Principal Analyst Not available for licensing. Although Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act have been in effect for several years, many organizations are still not compliant with these laws. This is especially the case for those with legacy systems that have been upgraded since legislation enactment and may now require compliance. Failure to ensure compliance poses organizational safety, monetary, and reputational risks. In addition to monetary forfeiture, FCC enforcement might require companies to take certain actions and include reporting requirements. Unfortunately, confusion still exists around what it means to be compliant with these laws and how to achieve compliance for a multi-line telephone system (MLTS). Recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) publications provide additional guidance to help eliminate this confusion. In this issue paper, we look at the current state of compliance, why it is critical that organizations achieve compliance, what it means to be compliant, and the proper steps for achieving compliance with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act. Note that Metrigy does not provide legal guidance or counsel. We urge IT and business leaders to seek out appropriate legal counsel to determine their own risk and ensure the sufficiency of their 9-1-1 implementation strategy.

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Table of Contents

• Overview
• Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act Defined
  • Kari’s Law
  • RAY BAUM’s Act
• Current State of Compliance
• Compliance Challenges and Confusion
• Risk of Non-Compliance
• Recent FCC Compliance Guidance
  • Grandfathered Systems
  • Local Emergency Response Teams
  • Dispatchable Location
• How Organizations Can Achieve Compliance
• Leveraging Third-Party Platforms to Ensure Compliance
• Conclusions and Recommendations