What You Need to Know About Texas Kari’s Law and Federal Kari’s Law

The story of Kari Hunt has come a long way. It is a story that has touched many hearts with sadness. It has also had many people join Hank Hunt’s (her father) fight for direct access to 9-1-1 without having to dial an additional digit from a multi-line telephone system (MLTS). Most of these phones are found in hotels, offices and many businesses. Kari’s story ends in success but started as a tragedy no father should ever have to endure.

BACKGROUND OF KARI’S LAW

Kari Hunt, daughter of Hank Hunt, was killed by her estranged husband in a motel room in Marshall, Texas in 2013. At the time, Kari’s 9-year-old daughter tried to call 9-1-1 for help four times from the motel room phone, but the call never went through. Why? Kari was doing what she was taught, because we teach children to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. We do not teach them that they need to dial “9” for an outbound line before being able to dial 9-1-1. Sadly, Kari died that day when her life could have been potentially saved if her daughter had been able to get through to 9-1-1.

TEXAS KARI’S LAW

Hank could not let her death be in vain. He started an incredible grassroots effort in Texas to get Kari’s Law enacted that would allow a person to dial 9-1-1 without having to push any additional digits first. He reached out to local officials and started a petition online. And his hard work paid off. Public officials, 9-1-1 employees, and citizens noticed and pushed for a law to change how MLTS phones are set up to ensure a person can dial 9-1-1 and get help right away. On May 15, 2015, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 788 into law. The law ultimately represents the culmination of the enormous efforts for change in the aftermath of the death of Kari.

The law and the rule require a business service user (BSU) to configure their MLTS for direct dialing to 9-1-1 without any initial digit, prefix, or access code to reach an outbound line.  Compliance with the law began on September 1, 2016.  The primary reason a rule was put into place was to implement the statutory waiver process under which a BSU can obtain a one-year waiver of the Texas Kari’s Law’s direct dialing requirements. To obtain a waiver, a BSU must timely submit an affidavit stating that: (1) The business service user made a good faith attempt to reprogram or replace the telephone system; and (2) Reprogramming/replacing of a non-compliant telephone system would be unduly and unreasonably cost prohibitive.

For more resources on Texas Kari's Law, including requesting a one-year waiver, please visit www.texas911.org. Additionally, CSEC has created a Texas Kari's Law Toolkit which includes a brochure, multiple PSAs and other helpful items in educating those to comply with Kari’s Law.

FEDERAL KARI’S LAW

Texas might have been one of the first states to create a Kari’s Law, but many other states followed suit. More and more support for a federal Kari’s Law was in the works. On February 16, 2018, Congress enacted the federal Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (Federal Kari’s Law) requiring direct dialing 9-1-1 access and notification with respect to any new MLTS. Federal Kari’s Law applies to a person (1) engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing MLTS; or (2) engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating a MLTS.

The law and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) regulations implementing the law are forward looking and apply only with respect to MLTS that are manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020. For more information on the Federal Kari’s Law please visit https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements.

Refrain from Letting Young Children Play with Deactivated Cell Phones

When we deactivate phones, meaning they do not have service through a phone provider, it's common to think they won't work in any way. But that is not the case. Deactivated cell phones, as long as they have a charge, can call 9-1-1. 

Why is this important to know? 

Being aware that an old cell phone can call 911 is important for a few reasons. On the positive side, if you couldn't afford service and had to shut it off, you at least have a way to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. The negative side of this is knowing anyone could accidentally call 9-1-1 from a deactivated cell phone. And this unfortunately clogs up 9-1-1 for real emergencies. This is why it important not let kids play with old cell phones that are deactivated. 

Using an old cell phone without a service contract presents challenges when contacting 9-1-1 as well. If you get disconnected from 9-1-1 while on the phone with them, the 9-1-1 dispatcher will not have a way to call you back since it is a deactivated phone therefore there is no number associated with it. Not only that, but older cell phones might not have up-to-date GPS technology, which means the dispatchers won't know where to locate you unless you can tell them.

What Happens if you or your child call 9-1-1 from a Deactivated Phone?

If someone accidentally calls from a deactivated phone, it is extremely important to stay on the line so you can let the 9-1-1 dispatcher there is no real emergency. But more importantly, simply don't let children play with deactivated phones. 

April Marks 9-1-1 Public Education Month and Recognizing National Telecommunicator Week

9-1-1 Education Month in April serves as an important time for 9-1-1 public educators to remind communities of what is considered an emergency as well as how and when to call for help.  The second full week in April also serves as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18, 2020). This week recognizes the incredibly hard and dedicated work telecommunicators and dispatchers do every single day to serve and assist the public in emergency situations. 

Telecommunicators, also known as call-takers or dispatchers, are individuals who work for 9-1-1 and answer incoming emergency calls and/or texts and, then in turn, ensure the caller gets the appropriate emergency response needed. Telecommunicators answer many tough 9-1-1 calls throughout their career and we should all tip our hats to them and recognize them for their commitment to public safety.  

In 2008, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to increase national awareness about the importance and appropriate use of 9-1-1 and created a month dedicated solely to 9-1-1 education. There have been many changes recently to laws or technology that affect 9-1-1 and it’s important you stay informed on these important topics.

Below are some great topics to share information on during the month of April:

Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t

Throughout the year, more and more regions across the United States have been or are now providing text to 9-1-1 services. This service is really vital to the deaf and hard of hearing community, or to someone in an emergency situation that would be compromised if they were to speak out loud. While text to 9-1-1 is available in many areas, it is not available in all areas. Keep in mind that if you do text to 9-1-1 and it is NOT available in your area, you will receive a bounce back message instructing you to please call 9-1-1 for help.

Know Your Location

Many people have smart phones these days. And on these smart phones we have maps that show us where we are, so it doesn’t seem far-fetched to think that if we have GPS in our phone, then 9-1-1 should be able to find us when we call. This is actually not the case. When you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone/smart phone, dispatchers are only able to see approximately where you are and not specifically where you are located. Remember to always be aware and know your location. Look for mile markers, landmarks, cross streets and addresses on buildings. 9-1-1 is currently updating the technology and infrastructure that will change this all over the country called Next Generation 9-1-1.

Federal Kari’s Law

A new law that business service users and the public should be aware of is the federal Kari’s Law. This law has to do with providing direct access to 9-1-1 from a multi-user telephone line (MLTS). On February 16, 2018, Congress enacted the federal Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (Federal Kari’s Law) requiring direct dialing 9-1-1 access and notification with respect to any new MLTS. The law only applies to MLTS that are manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020. With this law in place, if you ever need to call 9-1-1 from an MLTS phone, you don’t have to worry about dialing an additional digit to get an outside line first. Simply dial 9-1-1 for help. For more information on this law visit https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements. You can also find information here regarding the Ray BAUM Act that has to do with dispatchable location.

Remember to take some time at home and discuss how and when to call 9-1-1 with your children or grandchildren. View the Cell Phone Sally: Getting Help is Easy video here!

Below find the Proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott recognizing 9-1-1 Telecommunicators!

Practice a Safe Holiday Season

It’s a time for giving, for remembering, and for being grateful for all your blessings as you gather round with loved ones. It can also be a time when predators prey on the unsuspecting. Compiled below is a list of safety concerns that will help you get through the holidays a little more safely.

Holiday Shopping Safety

·         Keep all doors locked and windows closed when you are away from your vehicle. This will help prevent thieves from easy access to your valuables.

·         Never leave your car unoccupied while it is running. (And as a reminder, don’t leave children unattended in the car either for their safety too)

·         When leaving your vehicle, make sure all valuables are out of sight. If you must leave something in your car, put it in the trunk where it is out of sight.

·         Always stay alert when walking to and from your car in parking lots and garages. Thieves will prey on those that are least expecting it or aware of it.

Fire Safety

·         Keep candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children.

·         Never leave burning candles unattended. Better yet, use battery-operated candles instead!

·         Do not burn candles near flammable items, especially near Christmas trees.

·         Check and clean the chimney at least once a year. That way when you use it for burning wood, the chimney will work properly.  

·         Do not overload electrical outlets as this can cause fires. Only plug in one high-wattage appliance into each outlet at a time.

Tree Safety

·         Decorate the tree with kids in mind; move ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks toward the top of the tree.

·         Always use a proper step ladder when putting decorations up high.

·         When putting up lights, make sure there are no exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets.

·         If you have a real tree, keep it fresh by watering it daily. Dry trees are a fire hazard.

·         Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Poison Safety

·         Decorating the home with festive plants around this time of year is very popular. But some of these plants have berries that can be poisonous if enough are ingested. The most common are mistletoe berries, holly berries, poinsettias, and Jerusalem cherry. Please keep these out of reach of children.

·         Did you know if you swallowed a button battery, it could potentially explode in your stomach? If swallowed and undetected, the batteries can do serious damage to the gastrointestinal system. Keep these batteries out of reach of children. And if a child does ingest it, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate help. 

·         Food poisoning can be the pits! Check out the www.foodsafety.gov website for holiday food safety tips.

Travel Safety

·         Make sure all your doors and windows are locked in the home before leaving.

·         If you have an alarm, make sure to turn it on while you are out of town.

·         Have a neighbor or family member watch your house, pick up your mail and even park in your driveway periodically, if possible.

·         Leave a radio or television on so the house sounds occupied.

·         Make sure expensive items or gifts in your home are not visible through windows or doors.

·         If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it is placed in water or wet sand to keep it fresh.

·         Always remember to wear your seat-belt and practice cautious driving, especially if road conditions are bad.

·         Never drink and drive.

·         If you are involved in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

·         For winter driving safety tips, please visit the National Safety Council link here.

Whether you travel this holiday season or stay at home, please have a safe and cheerful time. If you ever find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for help.

Have a Safe Thanksgiving Holiday

As we get closer to celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with loved ones, we would like to remind everyone to practice safety first. It is also an excellent time of year to remind children what to do in case of an emergency. Check out some tips we have compiled for you to make your holiday a little safer and more prepared.

Traveling

Many families will be on the road traveling to visit friends and relatives for Thanksgiving. Please remember not to use your cell phone when you are driving. This includes no texting and driving either. Many cities have made it illegal to hold a hand-held device while driving. Keep yourself safe from a ticket and any dangers that come from not keeping your eyes on the road. It is best to always pull over if you need to talk or text on the phone. Distracted drivers and any harsh weather conditions can be a recipe for disaster. Remember to keep alert and dial 9-1-1 if you ever find yourself in an emergency. And always know your location. Install the FEMA app for Weather Alerts, safety tips, emergency checklists and more. Here is the link: FEMA APP

Cooking

People especially enjoy Thanksgiving because of all the wonderful food you get to eat and share with friends and family. When preparing any dishes, please remember to be smart and safe. Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning and while it’s normally not fatal, it is widespread. It is typically found in raw meats, poultry, eggs, milk, fish and their bi-products. Salmonella can only be destroyed by cooking food thoroughly and with temperatures above 140 degrees.

Food poisoning usually happens because of poor food handling practices. Symptoms can include fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. To keep bacteria from entering your body, wash hands, dishes, utensils, kitchen equipment and work surfaces before and after handling. If you think you might have been poisoned, please do not hesitate to contact poison control for help at 1-800-222-1222.

Another great tip is to replace batteries in your smoke detectors and ensure they are working properly in case of a fire emergency. You should also keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it. And if you are frying a turkey, please keep the fryer outside. This will eliminate the chance of anything catching fire.

Home Safety

Be smart if you plan to travel away from your home for the holidays. Do not post that you are going to be out of town on any social media sites. Secure all windows and doors so there is no easy entry into your home and set an alarm system if you have one. If you can, have a friend move your car occasionally while you are gone so it looks like someone is home. If you ever find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

Check out the tips below from the National Fire Academy on what ages are appropriate for helping out in the kitchen. 

October Marks National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is not only a time to celebrate Fall festivities, but also a time to ensure your cyber security is working well and keeping you safe from cyber criminals. No matter what type of technology you might use to access sensitive data, it’s important to know what tools you can use to help keep you safe.

First off, remember that while it is very important to have technology and programs that help assist in keeping your information secure, your information cannot stay secure without YOU. Attackers have found that the easiest way to get what they want is to target you instead of your computer or other devices. Thieves are after your credit card information, passwords to various websites you use, and sometimes, control of your computer. But how do they get a hold of this information? Simply by tricking you into giving it to them usually under a false sense of urgency. A good example is the cyber criminals would call you pretending to be tech support and claim that your computer is infected. In reality, they are just trying to gain access to your computer. They also might send an email pretending to be a co-worker who needs access to something on your computer and requesting for you to click on a link to confirm your information. This email is not really from a coworker and is deceiving you into visiting a malicious website that will then hack into your computer. Remember- the greatest defense against hackers will always be YOU.

Second, always make sure you have a very strong password that is different for every site you have log in credentials for.  Passwords that are eight characters or shorter are not very well protected and are vulnerable to cyber criminals. Always create a strong and unique passphrase for a password. For example, cow milk bananas apples. The longer the passphrase is, the more protected your personal information will be. When you have a lot of log on credentials to remember, you can utilize a password manager, which is a specialized program that securely stores all your passphrases in a format that is encrypted. It is also a great idea to set up a two step verification process. This usually means you will enter your password and then also enter a code sent to your smartphone or from an app that generates the code for you. This is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your private information.

Third, ensure that all your devices and programs are always running on the latest version of the software. Cyber criminals are always looking for loopholes and cracks of vulnerability in the systems you use. Then they use special programs to exploit these vulnerabilities. When companies come across these vulnerabilities, they fix them as quickly as possible in the form of updates, which is why it is so important to keep your programs and devices up-to-date. If you are able, it is best to set up automatic updates, so you do not have to worry about if you have the latest version or not. This includes smartphones, computers, inter-connected TVs, security cameras, baby monitors, gaming consoles and even your car.

Finally, no matter how careful you are, you can still potentially be hacked. If this happens to you, the only way to restore all your personal information is from backing it up. Ensure you make regular backups of all important information and confirm that you can restore your data from them. Many operating systems and mobile devices provide automatic backups to either external drives or to a cloud environment. Taking these important steps will help to secure your private information and protect your identity.

Check out these tips from the Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect-toolkit 

Be Prepared, Not Scared for Disasters

It’s hurricane season and a great time of year to practice being prepared for an emergency or disaster in your area. September marks National Preparedness Month and the theme this year is “Be Prepared, Not Scared”. It’s important to have disaster preparedness plans in place whether you are at home, work or traveling when an event occurs. You never know what type of emergency could affect you. Follow these guidelines to help you and your loved ones be prepared for any situation and help give your family peace of mind with a plan in place.

Here’s the best steps to take to be prepared:

Be Informed: When it comes to being prepared for a disaster, there is no such thing as being too prepared. For example, this can involve making sure you have proper insurance coverage if you live in a potential flood area. Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance do not cover flood damage which means you would need to obtain additional insurance to cover possible flooding. There are many other ways to plan financially for disasters and you can find out more information from clicking this link. Other ways to keep yourself informed include learning about potential hazards that may strike your community and your community’s plans for warning and evacuation when these events do occur. Awareness is truly the first key to being prepared. Want to know more? Visit https://www.ready.gov/be-informed to see an entire list of potential disasters and how to be prepared for each of these events.

Make an Emergency Plan: Put a plan in place with your family and loved ones simply over a conversation at dinner. You always want to be prepared for the “what ifs” so that when the emergency occurs, you feel more confident in contacting and locating your loved ones. Keep in mind how you will get in touch with each other to check in and know you are safe or if you need help. You also need to know where you plan on meeting to get back together when a disaster occurs. For more information on making a plan, visit http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Build a Kit: Use building a kit as an opportunity to bond with your family and loved ones. Involve children in the process too so that they feel they are contributing to ways they can help their family in an emergency. Things to include in a supply kit include food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days which is why you want to have plenty of food and water to survive on. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. To find a complete checklist of the supplies your household may need in the event of an emergency, visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Get Involved: Now is a great time to get involved in your community’s preparedness initiatives. Did you know that Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) train volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters that their community may face? Find your local CERT: https://community.fema.gov/Register/Register_Search_Programs.

Cell Phone Sally wants to remind you that 9-1-1 is a valuable resource and way to get or find help in any emergency. And remember to never use 9-1-1 for fun as it can clog up the phone lines for real emergencies.