SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6412

                    AS OF JANUARY 31, 1994

Brief Description:  Requiring 911 compatibility of private telecommunications systems and private shared telecommunications services.

SPONSORS: Senators Sutherland, Ludwig, Hochstatter and Vognild

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Staff:  David Danner (786‑7784)

Hearing Dates: February 2, 1994; February 3, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Private telecommunications systems are customer-owned systems that typically serve extensions in building complexes, campuses, or high-rise buildings, allowing callers within the building or campus to talk to each other without dialing into the public switched network.  All outside calls are made through a single connection to the public network, usually a room within the building or campus.    

Enhanced 911 emergency calling services enable the caller's number and location to be transmitted automatically to the 911 operator.  However, in many cases, when a 911 call is made from a telephone which is part of a private telecommunications system, the 911 operator receives only the line identification for a central location, not the location of the individual caller.  This can cause problems for an emergency response team trying to find the correct address, since the caller's location may be different than that received by the 911 operator.

Local government efforts to address this problem have led to inconsistent technical standards for systems in different jurisdictions.    

SUMMARY:

By January 1, 1996, owners of a private telecommunications system serving residential customers and school districts must ensure that the system is connected to the public switched network in such a way that calls to 911 result in automatic location identification for each telephone, in a manner compatible with county E-911 systems. 

Providers of private shared telecommunications services to multiple business users from a single system must be similarly connected, provided the businesses served contain a physical area of more than 25,000 square feet, are located on more than one floor of a building, or are located in multiple buildings.

Local regulations mandating automatic number or location identification are preempted.

State enhanced 911 coordination office and advisory committee shall participate in efforts to set uniform national standards for automatic number identification and automatic location identification, and, if such standards are not developed by January 1, 1996, shall develop standards and recommend them to the Legislature.

The Department of Labor and Industries shall adopt rules requiring owners of private telecommunications systems to advise users in procedures necessary for access 911 services.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 26, 1994

Effective Date:  July 1, 1994 (Section 12)