NENA Statement on FCC Commissioner Pai Event

On behalf of thousands of 9-1-1 professionals across the nation, NENA commends FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai for his leadership on the issue of reaching 9-1-1 emergency services via multi-line telephone systems (MLTS), such as those used in hotels and office buildings. Commissioner Pai held an event in Texas today to discuss the progress that has been made on this issue since the tragic death of Kari Rene Hunt Dunn, who was killed nearly one year ago by her estranged husband while her daughter tried and failed to reach 9-1-1 from their hotel room in Marshall, TX.

NENA is pleased by the progress that is being made on this issue, and we stand with Commissioner Pai in calling for further action. In this high-tech era, it is unfortunate that such a high percentage of MLTS still require users to dial an extra digit before 9-1-1 to reach an emergency professional.

NENA reaffirms its readiness to work with the Congress and the FCC in drafting legislation and regulations on this issue, and to work with the affected industries to implement it. NENA advocates a system in which:

· Callers to 9-1-1 are able to reach help directly and immediately, with no other dialing codes or prefixes.

· Precise, accurate location data is delivered automatically with every 9-1-1 call.

· Systems are in place to provide on-site notifications, so that a front desk clerk, receptionist, or other "gatekeeper” will be alerted to 9-1-1 calls made from the premises and can help direct first responders to the scene of the emergency.

· Policy makers ban "local termination” of 9-1-1 calls, in which callers are routed to a front desk or guard station, rather than the appropriate local 9-1-1 center.

9-1-1 professionals from across the country will gather in Washington February 22-25 to educate policymakers on this and other 9-1-1 issues, as part of NENA’s annual 9-1-1 Goes to Washington event.

NENA offers model legislation and technical guidance to help all stakeholders understand and address the issues involved in locating 9-1-1 callers in the MLTS environment. For more information, please visit http://www.nena.org/?MLTS_Legislation, or call NENA.