Ray Baum

Published 2025-01-30 by TechNet Team

When someone dials 911 from your office, does the dispatcher know exactly where they are? Not just your building address - but the specific floor, suite, or room? If not, your phone system may not be compliant with Ray Baum's Act.

What Is Ray Baum's Act?

Ray Baum's Act (named after Ray Baum, a former FCC official who passed away in 2018) includes provisions that require multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) to transmit dispatchable location information with all 911 calls.

The dispatchable location requirement took effect on January 6, 2022 for fixed phones and is being phased in for non-fixed devices.

What Is a "Dispatchable Location"?

A dispatchable location is the specific physical address where the 911 caller is located, including:

• Street address
• Building name (if applicable)
• Floor number
• Suite or room number
• Any other information needed for first responders to find the caller quickly

For example, instead of just "123 Main Street," the 911 center would receive "123 Main Street, Acme Corp Building, 4th Floor, Suite 410."

Why Does Ray Baum's Act Exist?

Traditional 911 systems were designed for landline phones with fixed addresses. But modern phone systems - especially VoIP - can have hundreds of extensions across multiple floors, buildings, or even cities, all sharing a single main address.

When a 911 call comes in with only a building address, dispatchers face critical questions:

• Which of the 20 floors is the emergency on?
• Is it in the east wing or west wing?
• Which suite or office?

In a medical emergency, fire, or active threat situation, these seconds matter. First responders searching floor-by-floor wastes precious time that could cost lives.

What Problems Does Ray Baum's Act Solve?

• Faster emergency response - Responders go directly to the right location instead of searching.
• Improved accuracy for VoIP and mobile systems - Even softphones and mobile devices must provide location data.
• Better protection for large facilities - Hospitals, campuses, office towers, and warehouses all benefit from precise location routing.
• Accountability for phone system operators - Businesses must ensure their systems are properly configured.

How Ray Baum's Act Works with Kari's Law

Ray Baum's Act complements Kari's Law, which requires direct 911 dialing and on-site notification. Together, they ensure:

1. Direct access - Anyone can dial 911 without a prefix (Kari's Law)
2. On-site awareness - Someone at your facility knows 911 was called (Kari's Law)
3. Precise location - Dispatchers know exactly where the caller is (Ray Baum's Act)

Who Must Comply?

Any organization using a multi-line telephone system, including:

• Businesses with VoIP or PBX phone systems
• Hotels and hospitality properties
• Educational institutions
• Healthcare facilities
• Government buildings
• Multi-tenant office buildings
• Warehouses and manufacturing facilities

How to Ensure Compliance

1. Audit your phone system - Identify every phone, extension, and softphone in your organization.
2. Configure location data - Work with your VoIP provider to assign specific locations to each endpoint.
3. Test your E911 configuration - Verify that test calls transmit the correct location information.
4. Update as you grow - When you add phones, move offices, or open new locations, update your E911 database.
5. Document everything - Maintain records of your E911 configuration for liability protection.

Our VoIP Solutions Are Fully Compliant

All TechNet VoIP systems include full Kari's Law and Ray Baum's Act compliance:

• Direct 911 dialing from any extension
• Configurable on-site notifications
• Dispatchable location management for every phone
• E911 dashboard to manage and update locations
• Automatic compliance reporting

Not sure if your current system is compliant? Contact us for a free assessment. We'll review your phone system and help you meet all federal emergency calling requirements.