BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 911
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 911 (Bloom)
As Amended May 29, 2013
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 15-0
APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Bradford, Patterson, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Bonilla, Buchanan, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Ch�vez, Fong, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Beth Gaines, Garcia, | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| |Gorell, | |Hall, Ammiano, Linder, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, Jones, | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
| |Quirk, Rendon, Skinner, | | |
| |Williams | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes various requirements, beginning January
1, 2019, regarding 911 emergency call technology that would be
applicable to multiline telephone systems (MLTS), operators of
shared voice communications services, and businesses with a
MLTS. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires a MLTS operator in an area that has enhanced 911
capability, beginning January 1, 2019, to maintain and operate
MLTS, as specified, to ensure that each emergency call placed
from any telephone station on MLTS is routed to a public
safety answering point (PSAP) and provides either automatic
location information or automation number identification to
the 911 network that connects to a PSAP.
2)Provides exemptions for buildings or structures under 7,000
square feet of workspace or where enhanced 911 service is not
available.
3)Authorizes the assessment of civil penalties against a MLTS
provider that violates these requirements.
4)Absolve a voice service provider and its affiliates,
directors, officers and others pursuant to this legislation
from liability for damages incurred under certain
circumstances.
AB 911
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor, absorbable costs to PUC.
1)What is a MLTS : A multi-line telephone system, or MLTS, is a
telephone system comprised
of common control units, telephones, and controls providing
local telephone service to multiple end-users. Multi-line
telephone system includes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
and includes network and premises based systems such as
Centrex, PBX, and hybrid key telephone systems, but does not
include key telephone systems. Many businesses, government
agencies, hotels, and schools use these types of telephone
systems.
2)Enhanced "911" service : The digits 911 are designated as the
emergency telephone number.
The ability to access emergency services by dialing 911 is a
vital component of public safety and emergency preparedness.
It is imperative that consumers of telephone service be able
to reach emergency services regardless of the technology used
to place a 911 call. When a 911 call is placed from a
traditional telephone, the call in most cases is sent to a
PSAP that is responsible for helping people in a particular
geographic area or community. PSAP personnel often can
automatically identify your location and direct the closest
emergency personnel to that location.
Currently, over 240 million 911 calls are made annually to the
6,187 public agencies serving as PSAPs nationwide. In
California, over 480 PSAPs receive nearly 30 million calls
annually. An increasing proportion of these calls are
delivered by wireless and internet technology (over 40 % last
year).
Enhanced 911 (E911) is an enhanced version of the 911
emergency service provided by the communications carrier which
identifies the phone number and location from which a 911 call
originates. E911 service can be helpful to first responders
in situations where a caller is unable to provide his or her
location. Thus, it is only useful if the phone system can
provide an accurate location to PSAP. An example, in a large
office building, the physical address where the emergency
occurred is of little use without knowledge of which floor to
go to. In addition, in some cases where all calls in a
multiline phone system are routed through a central
AB 911
Page 3
switchboard (i.e., hospital), the switchboard is physically
located a significant distance from where the call originates
(i.e., medical clinic), and PSAP may dispatch help to the
switchboard's location while the emergency is miles away.
3)Federal and state efforts : This bill requires MLTS operators
to equip the system with the
ability - via automatic location information identification or
automatic number identification - to provide a PSAP with the
precise location from which the call originates.
Specifically, the system must provide, at a minimum, the
building and floor where the caller is located. The genesis
of this bill evolved in response to recent action by the
National Emergency Number Association (NENA). NENA developed
model legislation in February 2011 to require MLTS's to
provide a sufficiently precise indication of the caller's
location, while avoiding imposition of undue burdens on system
manufacturers, providers and operators of MLTS.
One year prior to the adoption of NENA model legislation, the
California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in April 2010,
issued Rulemaking 10-04-011 with the objective of enhancing
Californians' public safety by addressing the California's
E911 Private Branch Exchange (PBX)/MLTS public safety
communication gap. The goals of this proceeding are to
reduce, where possible, the critical time an effort needed by
emergency response personnel to locate an injured or
distressed 911 caller located within an extensive workplace
comprised of several rooms, floors, etc., and to minimize the
time and exposure of first responders to any dangerous
conditions. A final vote by the PUC on this Proposed Decision
is expected later this summer.
4)Who is the MLTS operator : For the purposes of this bill a
MLTS operator is the owner or lessee of the equipment. The
MLTS operator would be required beginning January 1, 2019 -
should this bill become enacted - to install the software on
their telephone system. The bill also specifies that the MLTS
operator is responsible for updating the automatic location
information database with appropriate address and call back
information as soon as practicable. The automatic location
information database is maintained by MLTS' communications
service provider. Provisions in the bill require MLTS
operator to annually audit accuracy of information contained
in the automatic location information database.
AB 911
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5)Compliance and enforcement : Should this bill become law, an
entity who sells a MLTS
should provide, at the time of sale, to the purchaser and to
each new user, either a demonstration of how to place an
emergency call from a telephone station or informs an
individual how to place an emergency call from the telephone
system. A seller of MLTS system could be assessed a fine if
found in violation of this law.
6)Author's amendments : Recent amendments clarify the
requirements and responsibilities required under this bill.
In addition, the amendments make it clear that the provisions
apply whether or not the MLTS is going to be purchased,
leased, or managed by a third party. The definition of MLTS
operator is being clarified to include leases and third party
managers. The amendments also delete the reference to "shared
voice communications line service."
Analysis Prepared by : DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083
FN: 0001034