Kari’s Law

As a business owner, you should ensure that your business complies with Kari’s Law, or you could face harsh penalties. As of February 16, 2020, U.S. businesses with multi-line phone systems are now required to enable:

  • direct dial to 911,
  • on-site notification of any 911 calls, and
  • direct routing to a 911 public safety answer point.

This change took place because of Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act. The law was signed in 2018, and it amends the original 1934 Telecommunications Act. The purpose of Kari’s Law is to streamline emergency communications and decrease emergency response time.

Origin of Kari’s Law

The name for the law came from a woman named Kari Hunt. In 2013, Kari was killed in a hotel room by her estranged husband after her daughter was unable to call for help from the hotel phone. Her nine-year-old daughter was not aware that she needed to dial “9” before she could call 911.

Medical examiners agreed that Kari might have survived had her daughter been able to get help. Kari’s father decided to act so that no one else would have to go through this struggle again. Her father’s movement resulted in The House and The Senate voting unanimously for Kari’s Law.

Because of this law, also known as Congressional Bill H.R. 582, anyone will be able to reach emergency services from anywhere. If your Denver business has a multi-line telephone system, you can call KCG Communications to update your service.

What Does Kari’s Law Mean for Your Business?

To be compliant with this law, you must ensure that:

  • Emergency calls do not require a prefix.

Your communication system should not hinder anyone from dialing 911. If you have to press “9” for outgoing calls from your business, you must disable this for emergency calls.

  • On-site personnel can locate the emergency

A 911 call is ineffective if the necessary services cannot locate the caller in a large building or warehouse. Therefore, you must also have a notification system in place so that a person or office knows the location of the emergency. That person can then provide aid or help emergency personnel reach the area.

The other part of Kari’s Law is Ray Baum’s Act. The goal of this act is to provide emergency personnel with a 911-caller’s accurate location. Therefore, all multi-line phone systems have to automatically provide a “dispatchable location” to the Public Safety Answering Point.

Timeline for Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act

You don’t want to wait until the last minute to update your communication system. For this reason, you may want to keep track of the compliance deadlines for this law and act accordingly. The timing of the law works as follows:

  • February 16, 2020 – Multi-line phone systems must have direct access to 911, direct routing to a 911 center, and on-site notification of 911 calls.
  • January 6, 2021 – All wired devices must provide dispatchable locations so that personnel can locate the 911 caller.
  • January 6, 2022 – All wireless devices must provide a dispatchable location as well.

The Federal Communications Commission regulates Kari’s Law. They have the power to penalize you and your business if they judge you to be non-compliant.

Get compliant

If you do not comply with Kari’s Law, you risk:

  • A fine of up to $10,000 as well as other penalties
  • A daily fine for each day the FCC finds you non-compliant
  • Huge civil liabilities if a tragedy occurs

If you don’t know what your options are or how to proceed, let KCG Communications assist you. We provide telecommunications services and solutions for the Colorado Front Range Area. Small-to-medium-sized businesses trust our customized and affordable solutions.

Our team can help you avoid penalties and comply with Kari’s Law. We want your communication system to be efficient and safe for everyone. Call us today for more information.

More about KCG Communications

We’ve provided voice and data services for businesses in Colorado since 1980. Our qualified technicians are trained to meet any of your communication needs, including:

  • Cloud-based control and storage systems
  • VoIP solutions
  • Structured cabling
  • On-going support
  • Voice mail

KCG Communications is easy to reach, and we provide service tailored to your business. We have competitive pricing and many financing options to ensure that you can get what you need.

You have a lot on your mind when it comes to running your business. Let us take one task off of your hands. Not only will we make sure you comply with federal laws, but we can also help your business run at optimum efficiency. Contact KCG for quick communication solutions.