In an emergency, every second counts. Whether it’s a guest experiencing a medical crisis or an employee reporting a fire, first responders must know exactly where the call originated. That’s the core of today’s E911 standards – and falling short can endanger lives and expose your organization to serious liability.

As 2026 unfolds, the FCC continues to enforce Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act, two federal mandates that require any multi-line telephone system (MLTS) – including hotels, office buildings, campuses, and nonprofits – to provide accurate, real-time location data whenever someone dials 911.

What E911 compliance must do

If someone dials 911 from your facility today, your system should be able to:

• Deliver a dispatchable location – the exact room, suite, or floor – to the emergency call center so responders can be directed to the right spot.
• Provide direct dialing to 911 without requiring a prefix such as “9.”
• Trigger on-site notification so a designated responder knows an emergency call has been placed.

The numbers demand attention

Americans place an estimated 240 million 911 calls each year, roughly 650,000 calls per day, and in many areas over 80% of these calls now originate from mobile or wireless devices. Staff and guests increasingly rely on cell phones, softphones, and cloud-based VoIP – not fixed desk lines. Without dynamic E911, that mobility can make it harder for emergency crews to locate the caller, especially in large buildings or multi-tenant facilities.

Your role as a decision maker

Federal law is now the baseline, but local jurisdictions across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region are tightening enforcement and clarifying expectations for hotels, businesses, and nonprofits. Before upgrading or replacing your phone or unified communications platform, verify that your provider explicitly supports Kari’s Law (direct dialing plus on-site notification) and RAY BAUM’s Act (dispatchable location for both fixed and non-fixed devices).

At TCI, we help organizations assess their existing systems, close compliance gaps, and implement reliable E911 solutions tailored to complex environments.

When every second counts, precise location information can save lives. For guidance, contact TCI at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.