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A. Some quick resources:
Understanding Enterprise 911 (from Plante Moran)
Enterprise E911,
A Primer (a PDF from Plante Moran)
Both Plante Moran documents are excellent, particularly the Primer that
has an excellent non-technical overview, a discussion of many key issues
including ERLs, a great review of each switch vendor's E911
capabilities, a description of PS/ALI, a list of special vendor
offerings, etc. Required reading for any organization considering MLTS/PBX
E911 implementation.
Private Switch 911 Overview (from Tarrent County TX 911, 2009)
Cambridge MA (City)
Comments of PBXE911 and Use of PS/ALI. (City of Cambridge) B.
Overview in MA.: the E911 Law and Regs:It is estimated that over one million wired phones in Massachusetts
cannot transmit their exact location information to PSAPs when a 911
call is made from those phones. These are phones connected to "Multiline
Telephone Systems" ((MLTS) - also called Private Branch Exchange
telephone systems (or
PBXs).
PBX's are found mostly in businesses, hotels, universities, government
offices and other facilities. Often you know you are using a "PBX phone"
when you have to dial a "9" or "8" to get an "outside line".
Another way you might know you are using a PBX phone is if someone has
told you you are using a VoIP or "IP" phone in your business, school,
hotel, or other larger organization.
Massachusetts' new E911 statute contains
language that requires "new or substantially renovated multiline
telephone systems" to "provide the same level of enhanced 911 service
that is provided to others in the commonwealth". Regulations will be
developed to implement this statutory requirement. See the complete
language below:
"Section 18J. Beginning July 1, 2009, any new or substantially
renovated multi-line telephone system shall provide the same level of
enhanced 911 service that is provided to others in the commonwealth. The
department shall adopt regulations to implement this requirement. In
such regulations the department may exempt certain multi-line telephone
systems from this requirement based on such factors as costs and the
public benefits of compliance, except that accessibility of such a
system to people with disabilities may only be waived if the proponent
of the waiver has shown it to be technologically infeasible or of
excessive cost without benefit to the disability community. For the
purposes of this section, a "multi-line telephone system" shall mean a
system comprised of common control units, 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.
Mass. promulgated
MLTS
E911 regulations effective 7/1/09. They should be required reading
for any entity installing a new PBX - or substantially renovating one -
on or after 7/1/09.
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