Seyfarth Synopsis: New state and federal laws and rules require employers to have compliant phones systems for 911 direct dialing and E-911.
Most large employers maintain multiline phone systems at their workplaces. Along with emergency action plans and evacuation procedures, employers must take affirmative steps to ensure that employee phones provide adequate safety protections in the event of an emergency. Some jurisdictions impose numerous regulations on those systems and their ability to dial 911, requiring onerous notifications, procedures, labels, and 911 dialing features. And those requirements are constantly evolving, as 2018 marked a seminal shift in 911 regulations.
The federal government has passed a new law requiring that phones dial 911 directly, and has directed the Federal Communications Commission to undertake a rulemaking on Enhanced 911 regulations, also called "E-911." These federal and state developments may require employers to take action to ensure compliance, and revamp their emergency safety equipment and procedures.
New Federal Law Requires Direct Dialing of 911
In recent years, nine states and New York City have adopted rules requiring phones to be able to directly contact 911. This means that any caller who dials 9-1-1 will be connected with emergency services, without a prefix (such as dialing 9 first) or going through an operator. In 2018, President Trump signed a bipartisan new law which requires any phone to be able to directly contact 911, 47 U.S.C. § 623(b). The federal law applies to all types of newly installed multiline phone systems. State and local laws may require existing systems to be revamped by a compliance date. Accordingly, employers replacing their phone systems or installing new systems will need to comply with these requirements. Employers who operate phone systems that require an operator or dialing to get an outside line should review their systems and ensure that they comply.
Federal E-911 Legislation May Be Forthcoming
Federal and state governments have begun to require Enhanced 911 services for employers who use multiline phone systems. States have enacted Enhanced 911 or E-911 requirements to multiline phone systems. E-911 means that the telephone system automatically will transmit phone number information or specific location information (building, floor, office number) to emergency services when a caller dials 911.
These restrictions vary by state, but can require employers to notify employees regarding E-911 capabilities, train employees on 911 dialing procedures, and provide written instructions near phones. Some also require that the phones provide E-911 capabilities in terms of number and/or location information. The President signed H.R. 4986 § 506 (March 7, 2018), which requires the Federal Communication Commission to consider adopting rules that ensure a “dispatchable location” is conveyed with 911 calls. The statute requires the FCC to conclude a proceeding to consider adopting rules E-911 location rules by September 23, 2019. Employers should monitor this process closely, as it could result in another unfunded mandate for employers to comply with E-911.
Employers should begin work now to ensure that their phone systems comply, and that their employees are properly trained on the new and pending federal and state laws and regulations.
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