E911 Legislation Overview

It is important to understand how legislation fits into the PBX/911 picture. There is a growing movement across the United States for states to enact legislation which specifically addresses the issue of PBX/911.

PBX/911 has become a serious issue. As a solution provider, Amcom can help educate you about this critical issue, as well as to provide a range of solutions for E911 compliance.

All documents contained in this legislation section are prepared as an informational service only and should not be relied upon as an official record of action taken by any of the state offices referenced herein. Reliance on any such information is at the user’s own risk. Amcom does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of any information included in this publication and may not be held liable for any losses caused by any person’s reliance on the information.

If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney to determine your organization’s potential liability and responsibility.

Additional information about E911 compliance can be found on the NENA (National Emergency Number Association) web site, or by searching the NENA chapter websites offered by most states.

Summary

There is a wide range of legislation currently in process or approved.
Currently, the following state legislation is in effect:

• Arkansas
• California (proposed)
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (proposed)
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Ohio (pending)
• Pennsylvania (proposed)
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

Here is a brief summary of each state’s requirements.

Arkansas - Arkansas Code Ann. 12-10-303. Any exchange telephone service provider is required to send telephone number and street address to the PSAP, rules apply to broad base of entities. Arkansas E911 Legislation

California - Assembly Bill No. 942 was introduce February 2007 and would require that after June 30, 2008, every telephone exchange service, competitive local exchange carrier, multi-telephone system, private branch exchange system, key set system, Centrex, or similar system, to provide enhanced "911" service with automatic routing, automatic number identification, and automatic location information or identification. California Proposed E911 Legislation

Colorado - Colorado Statute Article 11, Emergency Telephone Service, was signed into law March 19, 2001 and effective August 8, 2001. This statute requires MLTS operators to disclose to their customers written information describing how to dial 9-1-1 emergency service from an MLTS telephone. Requires the operators to notify their customers if the system does not provide the precise location or telephone number of the 9-1-1 caller to the public safety answering point. Authorizes the public utilities commission to adopt rules to implement this act and clarifies that the provisions of the act do not alter the method of regulation or deregulation of telecommunications providers by the public utilities commission. Colorado E911 Legislation

Connecticut - Companies cannot prevent a 911 call from being made. However, 911 calls can be directed to on-site security answering points proven to be the same or better than PSAP. Additional legislation has been proposed that would require operators of a shared MLTS serving residential customers shall ensure that the telecommunications system is connected to the public switched network so that a call to 9-1-1 results in one distinctive ANI and ALI for each living unit, unless the facility maintains, at all times, alternative methods to support enhanced 9-1-1. Further requirements are made for other MLTS operators such as business locations and hotels. Connecticut Proposed E911 Legislation

Florida - The Florida statue was signed into law June 23, 2003. The law defines the common terms used in the section (ALI, ANI, ALI retrieval, PBX) and requires each PBX system installed after January 1, 2004 must be capable of providing automatic location identification to the station level. Florida E911 Legislation

Illinois - Senate Bill 149, which amends the Emergency Telephone Systems Act [50 ILCS Act 750] by changing the 9-1-1 requirements for private business switch service to comply with Section 15.6 (a), was signed by the Governor, August 13, 1999. The effective date is June 30, 2000. This law requires entities that use PBX telephone systems and occupy 40,000 square feet or more of space to provide location information and a call back phone number to the local Emergency 911 System (PSAP). Illinois E911 Legislation

Kentucky - HB560 effective July 15, 1998, requires that dispersed private telephone systems connect into the local Enhanced 911 Emergency Telephone System beginning in 2001. This means the specific address of the telephone number must be available to the person who answers the 911 call. This bill requires residential complexes to have automatic location identification compatibility, but does not require any solution for a “multiline, shared tenant system of PBX owned and operated by a state agency or used in providing service within a hotel or motel.” Kentucky E911 Legislation

Louisiana - Any PBX installed after 1/1/2005 must be capable of providing ALI, automatic location identification, to the station level. Louisiana E911 Legislation

Maine - Emergency Services Communication (Heading PL 1989, c.502, Pt. A, @103), was signed into law June 20, 2003. This statute requires privately owned or leased multiline telephone systems to provide to end users the same level of E 9-1-1 service that non-multi-line end users receive, which include: automatic number identification signaling, station identification data and updates to E 9-1-1 databases. Requires multiline telephone systems that are newly installed or replaced to be compliant with routine technical rules adopted by the Department of Public Safety, Emergency Services Communication Bureau. Maine E911 Legislation

Michigan - Legislation was introduced in January 2007 to require telephone service providers that provide telecommunications facilities or services to businesses to use equipment capable of providing automatic number and location identification on 911 calls, with sufficient precision to pinpoint a 911 caller within a distinct 40,000 square foot portion of a business or commercial location, with some exceptions. Currently in committee. Michigan Proposed E911 Legislation

Minnesota - The Minnesota Statute was signed into law May 29, 2004. The law regulates that owners and operators of PBX systems installed after 1/1/2005, that are used in private businesses, hotels, residential units, and educational institutions, including schools and colleges, must provide a call back number and emergency response location. Minnesota E911 Legislation MN Legislation Explanation

Mississippi - After December 31, 1993 each entity operating a shared tenant service type of telephone system is required to provide telephone number location information for each and every “extension” when in an Enhanced 911 service area. Mississippi E911 Legislation

Ohio - Pending. A bill based on the NENA model legislation is being drafted, but is not yet introduced.

Pennsylvania - House Bill 2333 was introduced, based on the NENA model legislation. Currently in committee. Pennsylvania Proposed E911 Legislation

Texas - Texas Statute, Chapter 771, was signed into law September 1, 1995. This statute applies to businesses on a voluntary basis and to learning institutions that can provide E911 access. The statute requires compatibility for residential complexes, but not other businesses. Texas E911 Legislation

Vermont - Statute Title 30: Public Service, Chapter 88: Universal Telecommunications Service was signed into law June 20, 1994 and became effective July 1, 1994. Once Enhanced 911 is available, “any privately owned telephone system shall provide to those users the same level of 911 service that other end users in the area receive and shall provide ANI signaling, station identification data, and updates to enhanced 911 databases under the rules adopted by the board.” (Note: Through research, it is Amcom’s understanding that Enhanced 911 is available throughout the state of Vermont at the time of publication of this document.) Vermont E911 Legislation

Virginia - Virginia Acts of Assembly Chapter 427, signed into law March 19, 2007, amends Title 56 of the Code of Virginia. All PBX/MLTS installed after July 1, 2009 must provide ANI and ALI to the local PSAP for 911 calls unless alternate methods of notification have been approved. Virginia E911 Legislation

Washington - Washington Statute RCW 80.04.010, signed into law May 5, 1995 and effective July 1, 1995, requires compatibility for “those settings with the most risk,” which are schools, businesses and multi-tenant services. The legislation further outlines that any commercial shared services provider of private shared telecommunications services for hire or resale to the general public to multiple unaffiliated business users from a single system shall assure that 911 results in ALI for each telephone in a format that is compatible with existing or planned county E911 systems. This section shall apply to providers of service to businesses containing a physical area exceeding 25,000 square feet, or businesses on more than one floor of a building, or businesses in multiple locations. Washington E911 Legislation

• Enhanced 911
• E911 FAQ
• Glossary of Terms
• E911 Legislation