CallTower Information - Kari's Law Compliance
Overview of Kari’s Law
In February 2020, Direct Dial and Notification Requirements for new installations of Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS) in the US went into effect as a result of the passage of Kari’s Law. A third requirement, Dispatchable Location, does not go into effect until January 6, 2021, however it is considered best practice to implement as soon as possible. CallTower recommends you review all three requirements and ensure your organization has addressed all of them. Please note this document is meant to provide understanding of how CallTower provides necessary technology to meet these requirements. All organizations using CallTower services are responsible for ensuring the correct configuration of these requirements.
Direct Dial Requirement
What does it mean?
Users must be able to dial 911 directly without using a prefix to reach an outside line.
How does CallTower meet those requirements?
- All CallTower voice enabled platforms (Cisco, CT Cloud Voice, and Microsoft Skype for Business) support this requirement.
- CT Cloud SIP: For CT Cloud SIP customers, this requirement falls on your PBX support vendor or resource. CallTower properly routes 911 calls received to our e911 providers over our SIP trunks.
- Microsoft Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect: For Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, Operator Connect, or Teams Calling Plan customers, your Office 365 administrators must ensure that the appropriate dial plan configuration to allow direct 911 calls remains intact. CallTower can help you check or configure the Teams dial plan, but it is your organization’s responsibility to ensure no changes are made.
Notification Requirement
What does it mean?
When a 911 call is placed, appropriate personnel within the organization must receive notification to help an organization assist first responders in coordinating and expediting an on-site response to an emergency.
How does CallTower meet those requirements?
- All CallTower voice enabled platforms (Cisco, CT Cloud Voice, and Microsoft) support this requirement. For new installations, configuration information will be provided by your CallTower implementation team. For existing customers, please see below for setup information.
- CT Cloud Voice: For CT Cloud Voice customers, please check this article https://www.uc.solutions/CT_Cloud/HPBX/CT_Cloud%3A_Voice_-_Configuring_911_Notification for details on checking or setting up 911 notification. Email, SMS (via email,) and phone notifications are supported.
- Cisco: For Cisco customers, open a case with CallTower Support to check or configure 911 notification. Email and SMS notifications are supported.
- Skype for Business: For Skype for Business customers, open a case with CallTower Support to check or configure 911 notification. Email and SMS notifications are supported.
- Microsoft Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect: For Microsoft Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect customers, open a case with CallTower Support to check or configure 911 notification. Email and SMS notifications are supported.
Dispatchable Location for Emergency Services Calls
What does it mean?
911 calls should include dispatchable location information. Dispatchable Location requirements consist of the validated street address of the calling party, plus additional information such as suite, apartment, or similar information necessary to adequately identify the location of the calling party.
How does CallTower meet those requirements?
- All CallTower voice enabled platforms (Cisco, CT Cloud Voice, and Microsoft) support this requirement.
- Customers must ensure they have a location configured for each dispatchable location, and that the location is complete with all necessary address information, including floor, suite, etc. It is the customers responsibility to review this information and keep it current within CallTower’s systems.
- CT Cloud Voice / CT Cloud SIP: For CT Cloud Voice and CT Cloud SIP customers, please contact CallTower Support for information on existing locations and registered 911 addresses.
- For CT Cloud SIP customers, your PBX support vendor or resource must properly configure your system to send a separate calling number for each location registered for 911 service. You must review your Locations, 911 enabled numbers, and associated address information to ensure that each dispatchable location is configured properly.
- Cisco: For Cisco customers, please use Connect to validate existing locations and registered 911 addresses.
- Skype for Business / Microsoft Teams Direct Routing or Operator Connect: For Microsoft customers, please use Connect to validate existing locations and registered 911 addresses.
- CT Cloud Voice / CT Cloud SIP: For CT Cloud Voice and CT Cloud SIP customers, please contact CallTower Support for information on existing locations and registered 911 addresses.