Everything About 911 changed on 2.16.2020 and You Have New Liabilities.

Kari's Law

What is Kari’s Law?

Named after Kari Hunt Dunn, who tragically died because her 9-year-old aughter was unable to call 911. Their hotel required a “9” to access an outside line from their motel room before reaching 911.

Kari’s Law states callers cannot be required to dial a prefix like “9” to reach an outside line to make a 911 call. Onsite personnel must be notified when a 911 call is placed.

Don’t let one bad 911 call close your doors forever!

What is Ray Baum’s Act?

Dispatchable Locations

Ray Baum’s Act mandates organizations with Multi Line Telephone Systems (your hotel PBX) must provide a dispatchable location such as address AND Room Number with 911 calls.

Ray Baum’s Act requires that a “dispatchable location” is conveyed with 911 calls so that emergency personel can respond more quickly to emergencies. Dispatchable location means a room number, floor number, or similar information to identify the calling party’s specific location from the responder’s point of view.

Baum Act

The new Ray Baum’s 911 ruling requiring hotels send a dispatchable location with 911 calls means old fashioned telephone lines will no longer comply with Federal Regulations. Phone systems will need to use digital connections such as Hosted PBX, SIP Trunks or SIP PRI.

legacy phone systems

The FCC’s final order says existing PBX’s installed before 2/17/2020 do not need to comply with the dispatchable location requirement.