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FCC Amends Rules to Improve Access to 911

“This page is a digitally archived AccessInfo Announcement”

On August 1, 2019, the FCC adopted a Report and Order to address calls to 911 made from multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) that commonly serve hotels and office buildings, pursuant to Kari’s Law.  The Report and Order also addressed sending dispatchable location information with 911 calls, and consolidating the FCC’s 911 rules.

In the Report and Order, the FCC took action to:

  • Enable the public to dial 911 from MLTS directly, without having to dial additional numbers, such as a “9,” to reach an outside line. 
  • Require MLTS to send a notification to a location where someone is likely to hear or see it when a 911 call has been made. 
  • Establish dispatchable location information requirements for 911 calls from MLTS, fixed telephone services, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, mobile text, and Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).  Dispatchable location information refers to the street address of the calling party, as well as information such as room number, floor number, or similar information necessary to adequately identify the location of the calling party. 
  • Consolidate the Commission’s 911 rules into a single part of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Links to the Report and Order:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-improves-access-911-and-timely-assistance-first-responders-0
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-76A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-76A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-76A1.txt

General information about 911 services is available at https://www.fcc.gov/general/9-1-1-and-e9-1-1-services.  For more information, please contact John Evanoff, Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0848 or John.Evanoff@fcc.gov.  Individuals who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275 (videophone).  TTY users may call the FCC’s TTY number at (888) 835-5322.

Bureau/Office:
Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Tags:
Updated:
Friday, September 6, 2019