Public Law No.115-127. Known as Kari’s Law, the legislation is named for the woman (Kari Hunt Dunn) who was stabbed to death while her daughter tried (and failed) to call 911 from a hotel room.
On February 16th, 2018, President Trump signed into law an amendment (H.R.582) to the ‘Communications Act of 1934’, that requires multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) to have a configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 911 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or suffix.
A common feature of MLTS is the configuration requiring a user to dial a digit or prefix to reach a number outside of the system — dialing “9” before reaching an outside line, for example.
When an emergency call is placed from a MLTS phone, the user may still have to dial the prefix to direct the call outside of the system. Does this sound like your current phone system?
Need a solution fast? Look no further then the Patton SmartNode unified communications (UC) product line which includes VoIP gateways, routers, ATAs, IADs, and eSBCs. Patton SmartNode devices provide the essential digit manipulation and E-911 services that can help your business meet the requirements of Kari’s Law.
Application
PROBLEM: Users must dial ‘9’ for an outside line. That is, your MLTS requires you to dial ‘9’ in order to reach an outside line — before dialing 911. So, do you need to change your entire MLTS routing table to comply with KARI’s law?
SOLUTION: The answer is NO… if you have installed a Patton SmartNode VoIP gateway router. In this scenario, the users need ONLY dial 911. The SmartNode will automatically pre-pend a ‘9’ to the called e164 number (using it’s complex internal Mapping-Table function). The legacy PBX receives four digits: 9911. No changes to the MLTS are required.
Here’s how to configure it….
mapping-table called-e164 to called-e164 ADD_9
map 911 to 9911
map (.%) to 9\1
routing-table called-e164 RT_ADD_9
route default dest-interface IF_NAME ADD_9
For more information, please see:
- Knowledge Base Article – Digit Manipulation using Mapping-Tables
- Software Configuration Guide on page 553.
SmartNode Priority Service
Have you ever had to make a priority call, only to get a busy tone because all outside phone lines are in use? Try using the Patton SmartNode ‘Priority Service’. This sevice can automatically free up resources (drop lower-priority calls) if a higher-priority call needs to be established when all lines are in use. If someone dials 911, you can rest assured that the call will go through. For a more detailed description of SmartNode E911 services, please refer to the following:
Software Configuration Guide on page 581.
E911 to SIP Gateway Function*
Does your MLTS need to support the E911 Protocol? Patton SmartNode has you covered. SmartNode Gateways can act as an E911 to SIP gateway. This means taking Centralized Automated Message Accounting (CAMA) calls on FXS ports, receiving and decoding the caller-ID and then forward it over SIP to the PSAP. For a more detailed description of SmartNode E911 services, please refer to the following:
- Software Configuration Guide on page 251.
*Requires a CAMA software license to activate feature
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