Frequently Asked Questions - Telecommunications

Summary

There is a wide range of legislation currently in process or approved. Here is a brief summary of each state’s requirements:

Alaska - Proposed regulations for MLTS to be implemented with enhanced 9-1-1 , which includes ANI (Automatic Number Identification) and ALI (Automatic Location Identification), which provides at least the building and floor location of the caller. Proposed regulations include Business, Shared Residential Service, Hotel and Motel MLTS.

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.

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.

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.

Connecticut - Multi-line telephone system operators that provide shared tennant services must ensure their telecommunication systems provide one distinctive ANI and ALI for each residential unit. Multi-line Telephone System Operators servicing business locations of one employer shall deliver the 911 call with an ELIN (emergency location identification number) designating an ERL (emergency response location) that provides at least the building and floor location of the caller.

Multi-line telephone system operators servicing hotels and motels shall deliver the 911 call with an ALI (Automatic number identification) or ELIN (emergency location identification number) from each telephone set in the facility designating an ERL (emergency response location) that provides the PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) with the ability to clearly identify the address and the BUI (Building unit identifier) of the 911 caller.

Requirements for ERLs are outlined, as are timelines for implementation of these rules, including specific timelines for MLTS wireless telephones; MLTS Internet Protocol (IP) telephones and IP-based MLTS.

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.

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).

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.”

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

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.

Massachusetts - Section 18J. "Beginning July 1, 2009, any new or substantially renovated MLTS (multi-line telephone system) shall provide the same level of enhanced 911 service that is provided to others in the commonwealth". For the purposes of this section, a “MLTS” shall mean a system comprised of telephones and control hardware and software providing local telephone service to multiple end-use customers in businesses, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, schools, dormitories, hotels, motels, resorts, extended care facilities, or similar entities, facilities or structures. “Multi-line telephone system” shall include: (1) network and premises based systems such as centrex, pbx and hybrid key telephone systems; and (2) systems owned or leased by governmental agencies, nonprofit entities and for-profit businesses.

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.

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.

Nebraska - Nebraska Revised Statute 86-440.01- County implementation of enhanced-911 service. Each county shall implement enhanced-911 service by July 1, 2010. No specific requirements have been detailed for MLTS as of 11/24/08.

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

Pennsylvania - Automatic location identification in multiline telephone systems. Automatic number identification. An owner or operator of a multiline telephone system installed after February, 5, 2007 shall provide automatic number identification for every telephone station to the 911 network service provider.

Tennessee - Legislation in place for “Shared Tenant Service Providers” (any basic local exchange service subscriber who shares or resells basic local exchange service) must ensure that their system provides ANI and updated ALI for every 9-1-1 call.

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.

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.)

Virginia - 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.

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.