What is E911?
Enhanced 911 (E911) is an upgraded version of the traditional 911 emergency response system, which automatically provides the caller’s location to 911 dispatchers. It helps emergency services quickly and accurately locate people who call 911 using smartphones or internet-powered VoIP phone systems, including Microsoft Teams calling. This system is crucial for ensuring that emergency responders can reach the caller as fast as possible, whether the call is made from a landline, mobile phone, or VoIP service.
What is an E911 Address?
An E911 address is a physical location registered with emergency services to ensure accurate location information during a 911 call. This address is essential for emergency responders to quickly find you, especially when using VoIP (Voice over IP) services or Wi-Fi calling. Keeping this address updated with your current location is crucial for ensuring that emergency services can reach you promptly in case of an emergency.
Where do I find my E911 address?
To find your E911 address in Microsoft Teams, follow these steps:
- Open the Calls app tab in Microsoft Teams.
- Look underneath the dial pad; this is where your current E911 location is listed.
- If you’re working remotely outside of the corporate office network and have allowed location services to be enabled with the Teams app, you will see the remote location that Teams thinks you’re at.
- You can use the drop-down arrow to confirm or edit the address as needed.
This ensures that your emergency location information is accurate, whether you’re in the office or working remotely.
E911 Management
For UniVoIP’s cloud voice services, the Service Management portal is the place where you enter locations. Each phone number is then linked to one of these saved addresses for E911 purposes. Additionally, it supports bulk location changes for selected numbers. This feature allows organizations to quickly adjust large groups of addresses at once; which may be helpful in the case of an office relocation.
Dynamic E911
Dynamic emergency calling for Microsoft Teams lets you configure and route emergency calls and notify security personnel based on the current location of the Teams client.
Using the network topology defined by the tenant administrator, the Teams client sends network connectivity information to the Location Information Service (LIS). If a match is found, the LIS returns a location to the client.
The Teams client then includes this location data in an emergency call. This information is used by the emergency service provider to determine the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and route the call accordingly, enabling the PSAP dispatcher to obtain the caller’s location.1
E911 Requirements
Kari’s Law
Kari's Law ensures that anyone can directly dial 911 from a multi-line telephone system (MLTS) without needing to dial a prefix, like “9” for an outside line. This law was named after Kari Hunt, who tragically died when her daughter couldn’t reach emergency services due to the hotel’s phone system requiring a prefix. The law also mandates that a notification be sent to a central location, such as a front desk or security office, to alert someone that a 911 call has been made.2
RAY BAUM’S Act
RAY BAUM'S Act focuses on providing accurate location information for 911 calls, regardless of the technology used. It requires that the caller’s dispatchable location, which includes the street address and additional details like suite or apartment numbers, be sent to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). This ensures that emergency services can quickly and accurately locate the caller.2
E911 Implementation & Important Considerations
Activating Teams Phone E911 capabilities in your organization is essential for ensuring the safety of your staff and patrons. This feature allows emergency services to quickly and accurately locate individuals in case of an emergency, whether they are on-site or working remotely.
Regardless of whether you use Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing, it’s important to follow the guidance for managing emergency calling policies in Microsoft Teams. This includes configuring user policies to allow users to set their own emergency addresses, ensuring that location services are enabled, and regularly updating the registered addresses to reflect any location changes.3
By implementing these measures, you can help ensure that emergency responders have the accurate location information they need to provide timely assistance, thereby enhancing the overall safety and security of your organization.
Sources:
1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/configure-dynamic-emergency-calling 2. https://www.911.gov/issues/legislation-and-policy/kari-s-law-and-ray-baum-s-act/ 3. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-are-emergency-locations-addresses-and-call-routing
