Kari's Law
Dialling 911 without an outside line
Kari's Law requires multi-line telephone systems to let anyone dial 911 directly, without first dialling a 9 or any other prefix, and to notify someone on site when that call is made. It was named after a woman whose daughter could not reach help from a hotel room.
01
What it requires
| Requirement | What that means in practice |
|---|---|
| Direct 911 dialling | No prefix, no access code. Someone in distress should not have to know your dial plan. |
| On-site notification | When a 911 call is placed, a designated person on the premises is alerted, so responders can be met and directed rather than left hunting. |
| Applies to systems installed or substantially upgraded after February 2020 | It attaches to new and materially changed installations, which is why a line replacement project is exactly when it comes up. |
02
Why it matters to your lines
Replacing a building full of analog lines can amount to a substantial change to a phone system. That is worth settling with your telecoms provider and your authority having jurisdiction before the work starts, because it affects both configuration and what has to be recorded.
03
Questions worth asking
- Does this installation bring my system into scope?
- How is direct 911 dialling configured, and how do we test it?
- Who receives the on-site notification, and how?