File No. 572

Senate, April 20, 2006

The Committee on Appropriations reported through SEN. HARP of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING MULTILINE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS AND ENHANCED 9-1-1.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 28-25 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2008):

As used in this section and sections 28-25a, 28-25b, 28-26, 28-27, 28-27a, 28-28, 28-28a, 28-28b, 28-29, 28-29a and 28-29b and sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act:

(1) "Automatic number identification" or "ANI" means an enhanced 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of the seven digit number used to place a 9-1-1 call.

(2) "Automatic location identification" or "ALI" means an enhanced 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of information defining the geographical location of the telephone used to place a 9-1-1 call.

(3) "Office" means the Office of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunications.

(4) "Commission" means the E 9-1-1 Commission created by section 28-29a.

(5) "Enhanced 9-1-1 service" means a service consisting of telephone network features and public safety answering points provided for users of the public telephone system enabling such users to reach a public safety answering point by dialing the digits "9-1-1". Such service directs 9-1-1 calls to appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing based on the geographical location from which the call originated and provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification features.

(6) "Enhanced 9-1-1 network features" means those features of selective routing which have the capability of automatic number and location identification.

(7) "Municipality" means any town, city, borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.

(8) "Public safety agency" means a functional division of a municipality or the state which provides fire fighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical or other emergency services.

(9) "Private safety agency" means any entity, except a municipality or a public safety agency, providing emergency fire, ambulance or medical services.

(10) "Public safety answering point" means a facility, operated on a twenty-four-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency response services, or transferring or relaying emergency 9-1-1 calls to other public safety agencies. A public safety answering point is the first point of reception by a public safety agency of a 9-1-1 call and serves the jurisdictions in which it is located or other participating jurisdictions.

(11) "Selective routing" means the method employed to direct 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point based on the geographical location from which the call originated.

(12) "Telephone company" includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership or person, or lessee thereof, owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures, in, under or over any public highway or street, for the provision of telephone exchange and other systems and methods of telecommunications and services related thereto in or between any or all of the municipalities of this state.

(13) "Private branch exchange" means an electronic telephone exchange installed on the user's premises to allow internal dialing from station to station within such premises and connection to outgoing and incoming lines to the public switched network of a telephone company.

(14) "Private safety answering point" or "PSAP", means a facility within a private company, corporation or institution, operated on a twenty-four-hour basis, and assigned the responsibility of receiving 9-1-1 calls routed by a private branch exchange and, directly dispatching in-house emergency response services, or transferring or relaying emergency 9-1-1 calls to other public or private safety agencies.

(15) "Emergency medical dispatch" means the management of requests for emergency medical assistance by utilizing a system of (A) tiered response or priority dispatching of emergency medical resources based on the level of medical assistance needed by the victim, and (B) prearrival first aid or other medical instructions given by trained personnel who are responsible for receiving 9-1-1 calls and directly dispatching emergency response services.

(16) "Alternative method of notification" means an enhanced 9-1-1 service capability that that enables the location of the emergency caller and the initiation of emergency response.

(17) "Alternative methods to support enhanced 9-1-1" means methods used by a MLTS operator to provide a 9-1-1 emergency response team a reasonable opportunity to quickly locate a caller as an alternative to the MLTS signaling needed to produce the automatic display of caller location information on the video terminal of the call-taker.

(18) "Building unit identifier" or "BUI" means a room number or equivalent designation of a portion of a structure or building.

(19) "Call back number" means a number used by the PSAP to initiate contact with the location from which the 9-1-1 call was placed. The number may or may not be the number of the station used to originate the 9-1-1 call.

(20) "Emergency location identification number" or "ELIN" means a valid North American Numbering Plan format telephone number assigned to the MLTS operator for the purpose of routing a call to a PSAP, which then may retrieve ALI. The North American Numbering Plan number may in some cases not be a dialable number.

(21) "Emergency response location" or "ERL" means a location to which a 9-1-1 emergency response team may be dispatched. The location shall be specific enough to provide a reasonable opportunity for the emergency response team to quickly locate a caller anywhere within such location.

(22) "Key telephone system" means a type of multiple-line telephone system designed to provide shared access to several outside lines through buttons, or keys, typically offering identified access lines with direct line appearance or termination on a given telephone set.

(23) "Local notification" means a system capability whereby a call to 9-1-1 from a MLTS extension is directed through the 9-1-1 network to a PSAP and simultaneously to a switchboard operator, attendant or designated personnel where assistance can be provided to the PSAP to locate the caller or to assist in directing response. For local notification, the call back number shall be a telephone number that can be dialed from the PSTN, which will be answered by the switchboard operator, attendant or designated personnel. Local notification shall include the ability of the switchboard operator, attendant or designated personnel to identify the location of telephones that have dialed 9-1-1.

(24) "Multi-line telephone system" or "MLTS" means a multi-line telephone system comprised of one or more common control units, telephone sets and control hardware and software. This includes network and premises-based systems, such as centrex and PBX, hybrid and key telephone systems.

(25) "MLTS operator" means the entity that either owns or rents from a third party and operates a MLTS through which a caller may place a 9-1-1 call through the public switched network.

(26) "Master street address guide" or "MSAG" means a database of street names and house number ranges within the associated communities defining emergency services zones and their associated emergency services numbers to enable proper routing of 9-1-1 calls.

(27) "North American Numbering Plan" means a method of identifying telephone trunks in the public network of North America.

(28) "Public switched network" means any common carrier network that provides circuit switching between public users.

(29) "Public switched telephone network" or "PSTN" means a worldwide voice telephone network accessible to all those with telephones and access privileges.

(30) "Shared telecommunications services" means telecommunications and information management services and equipment shared within a user group located in discrete private premises in building complexes, campuses or high-rise buildings by a commercial shared services provider or by a user association, through privately owned customer premises equipment and associated data processing and information management services. It also includes the provision of connections to the facilities of a local exchange and to interexchange telecommunications companies.

(31) "Workspace" means the physical area of a building where work is normally performed. This is a net square footage measurement that includes hallways, conference rooms, restroom and break rooms, but does not include wall thickness, shafts, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment spaces, mechanical or electrical spaces or similar areas where employees do not normally have access.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) Operators of a shared MLTS serving residential customers shall ensure that the telecommunications system is connected to the public switched network so that a call to 9-1-1 results in one distinctive ANI and ALI for each living unit, unless the facility maintains, at all times, alternative methods to support enhanced 9-1-1.

(b) For a MLTS connected to the public switched network and serving business locations of one employer, the MLTS operator shall deliver the 9-1-1 call with an ELIN, which will result in one of the following: (1) An ERL that provides at least the building and floor location of the caller; (2) an ability to direct response through an alternative and adequate means of signaling by the establishment of a private answering point; or (3) a connection to a switchboard operator, attendant or a designated individual that provides for the establishment of local notification capability.

(c) The following shall not be required to provide more than one ERL: (1) A workspace fewer than 7,000 square feet and located on a single, contiguous property; (2) a location with key telephone systems; and (3) MLTS operators with fewer than 49 stations installed and occupying not more than 40,000 square feet on a single, contiguous property.

(d) Providers of shared telecommunications services shall ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public switched network so that calls to 9-1-1 from any telephone result in ALI for each respective ERL of each entity sharing the telecommunications services.

(e) Hotel and motel MLTS shall permit the dialing of 9-1-1 and the MLTS operator shall ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public switched telephone network so that 9-1-1 calls originating from the hotel or motel MLTS either: (1) Provide the PSAP with the ability to clearly identify the address and BUI of the 9-1-1 caller through the delivery of ANI or ELIN that results in the subsequent retrieval of ALI by the PSAP for each telephone set within the facility; or (2) provide an automated system that will connect the caller, PSAP and knowledgeable designated individual at the facility when 9-1-1 is dialed. The designated individual may supplement or replace the ALI record with specific location information by effectively communicating to the PSAP the specific location of the caller.

(f) Where applicable, MLTS operators shall arrange to update the ALI database with appropriate MSAG valid address and callback information for each MLTS telephone, so that the location information specifies the ERL of the caller. These updates shall be made as soon as practicable for new MLTS installations, or within one business day of record completion of the actual changes for previously installed systems. The information in the ALI database is proprietary to MLTS operators and shall not be disclosed or used for any purpose other than facilitating emergency response to a 9-1-1 call.

(g) MLTS operators shall be considered to be in compliance with regulations adopted under section 8 of this act when the MLTS complies with enhanced 9-1-1 generally accepted industry standards as defined by the Department of Public Safety, Office of State-wide Emergency Telecommunications. The telecommunication carriers shall provide interconnectivity through the use of generally accepted industry standards.

(h) The MLTS operator shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that potential 9-1-1 callers are aware of the proper procedures for calling for emergency assistance, such as when dialing the digit 9 is required. Dialing instruction requirements shall apply to all MLTS operators regardless of whether any other exemptions apply.

(i) MLTS shall support enhanced 9-1-1 calling by using any generally accepted industry standard signaling protocol, designed to produce an automatic display of caller information on the video terminal of the PSAP call-taker, unless the MLTS operator is exempt or a waiver has been granted in accordance with regulations adopted under section 8 of this act.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) Public agencies providing 9-1-1 educational programs may develop programs to educate MLTS operators on how to access 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems and to provide adequate testing of the MLTS interface to the 9-1-1 system.

(b) No MLTS manufacturer, provider or operator shall be liable for any civil damages or penalties as a result of any act or omission, except willful or wanton misconduct, in connection with developing, adopting, operating or implementing any plan or system required by this act.

(c) Nothing in this section is intended to relieve employers of their obligations under federal and state workplace occupational safety and health statutes and regulations.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) In facilities offering alternative and adequate means of intercepting emergency calls, training shall be offered to individuals intercepting the call in accordance with regulations adopted under authority of section 8 of this act.

(b) MLTS with a single ERL and fewer then forty-nine stations shall not be required to comply with regulations adopted under section 8 of this act. Requirements for MLTS and wireless MLTS operators to provide dialing instructions shall continue to apply.

(c) MLTS operators that employ alternative methods of enhanced 9-1-1 support shall not be required to comply with regulations adopted under section 8 of this act.

Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) The requirements of sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of the regulations adopted under section 8 of this act shall not apply to the following types of equipment until two years after the effective date of a Federal Communications Commission ruling addressing implementation of enhanced 9-1-1 support by such equipment: (1) MLTS wireless telephones; (2) MLTS Internet Protocol (IP) telephones; and (3) IP-based MLTS.

(b) A MLTS, using a combination of conventional stations and IP or wireless stations, shall be subject to this exemption for all calls made from the IP-based or wireless stations.

Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) MLTS operators that are not exempt from regulations adopted under section 8 of this act may seek a waiver from the Office of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunications within the Department of Public Safety if bringing the system into compliance is impractical. The local exchange carrier shall not grant waivers or enforce compliance with sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act or the regulations adopted under section 8 of this act.

Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) A MLTS installed on or after October 1, 2008, shall comply upon installation with the provisions of sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act and regulations adopted under section 8 of this act. Systems in existence on October 1, 2006, or those installed within two years of the date that enhanced 9-1-1 MLTS support service is available, shall comply by October 1, 2013.

(b) Enhanced 9-1-1 MLTS support service is deemed to be available if: (1) The serving central office may accept ELIN information for the MLTS using generally accepted industry standard interfaces; (2) facilities are in place to accept the ERL information provided by the MLTS; and (3) the PSAP is equipped to utilize the ERL information.

(c) The MLTS operator may choose the industry standard interface.

(d) Operators of MLTS systems not connected to the enhanced 9-1-1 system because the chosen interface standard is not available from the local exchange carrier shall report this information to the Department of Public Safety, Office of State-wide Emergency Telecommunications.

Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes to carry out the provisions of sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act. The regulations shall include (1) requirements for MLTS, including a requirement for dialing instructions, and (2) standards for MLTS operators and may include for individuals intercepting the call in facilities offering alternative and adequate means of intercepting emergency calls.

The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund; TF=Transportation Fund

Municipal Impact:

Explanation

The bill would require state agencies and municipalities to modify their multi-line telephone system (MLTS) in certain facilities, to provide location information when an occupant of the building places an emergency 9-1-1 call. The bill is effective October 1, 2008 and requires that all upgrades and modifications must be completed by October 1, 2013.

It is estimated that there are 350 Executive Branch agency locations that would be impacted by the bill, with an estimated total cost of $17 million for FY 09 through FY 13 or ranging $3.1 million in FY 09 to $3.8 million in FY 13. The upgrades and modifications to the MLTS for Executive Branch agencies would be completed by the Department of Information Technology (DOIT). Assuming that DOIT follows a five year implementation plan beginning in FY 09 and ending in FY 13, there are four components associated with the cost: (1) technical staff, which will add one additional position to DOIT with an estimated cost of $101,000 plus fringe benefits, (2) network upgrades, ranging from $460,000 in FY 09 to $1.0 million in FY 13, (3) equipment upgrades, which are estimated to cost $50,400 annually, and (4) equipment replacement, which is estimated to cost $2.4 million annually.

Additionally, municipalities and Legislative and Judicial Branch agencies would be required to upgrade facilities in accordance with the bill. It is unknown how many municipalities, or Judicial and Legislative locations would require upgrades and modifications. However, it is estimated that each location requiring an upgrade or modification would require $500-$1,000 annually for database maintenance to track the location information of individual workstations, and one time costs of $10,000-$50,000 for equipment upgrades.

In addition to requiring upgrades of MLTS to track location information, the bill makes several other changes, which are not anticipated to have a fiscal impact, including: allowing the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide educational training to MLTS operators, allowing DPS to adopt regulations to carry out the requirements of the bill, allowing DPS to grant waivers and exemptions to workplaces where upgrading the system would be “impractical,” and makes several technical changes.

The Out Years

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund; TF=Transportation Fund

Municipal Impact:

OLR Bill Analysis

sSB 109

AN ACT CONCERNING MULTILINE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS AND ENHANCED 9-1-1.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires that operators of Centrex and similar multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) modify their systems to provide additional locational information when a system user such as a tenant makes a 9-1-1 call.

The bill includes exemptions for certain MLTS operators. The Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications (OSET) may grant waivers if compliance is impractical.

The Department of Public Safety commissioner must adopt implementing regulations, which must include (1) MLTS requirements, including dialing instructions, and (2) standards for MLTS operators, which may include, for individuals intercepting calls in facilities, offering alternative and adequate means of intercepting emergency calls. Any MLTS installed after September 30, 2008 must be installed in compliance with the bill and implementing regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2008

MULTI-LINE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

Definitions

The bill defines “MLTS” as a multi-line telephone system with common control units, telephone sets, and control hardware and software. It includes network systems and systems on a customer's premises, such as Centrex and private branch exchange (PBX), hybrid, and key telephone systems.

The bill defines “ELIN” as a telephone number assigned to an MLTS operator for routing calls to a private safety answering point (PSAP), which may then retrieve the caller's geographic location information (ALI). The plan number may, in some cases, not be a “dialable” number.

Existing law defines a PSAP as a facility within a private company, corporation, or institution, operated on a 24-hour basis, responsible for receiving 9-1-1 calls routed by a PBX, and directly dispatching in-house emergency response services or transferring or relaying 9-1-1 calls to other public or private safety and agencies.

Existing law defines “ALI” as an E 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of information showing the geographic location of the telephone used to make the 9-1-1 call. Currently, ALI provides a street address rather than more specific information.

Existing law defines “ANI” as an E 9-1-1 capability that enables the automatic display of the seven-digit number used to place a 9-1-1 call.

Residential Service

The bill requires operators of a shared MLTS serving residential customers to ensure that the telecommunications system is connected to the public telephone network so that a 9-1-1 call results in one distinctive ANI and ALI for each living unit, unless the facility maintains alternative methods to support E 9-1-1 all the time.

Businesses

The bill requires that when an MLTS connected to the public network serves business locations of one employer (e.g., several buildings on a campus), the MLTS operator must deliver the 9-1-1 call with an ELIN resulting in one of the following: (1) an emergency response location (ERL) that provides at least the caller's building and floor location, (2) the ability to respond directly through an alternative and adequate means of signaling by the establishment of a private answering point, or (3) a connection to an individual who can inform responders of the caller's location.

The following need have only one ERL: (1) a workspace of less than 7,000 square feet located on a single, contiguous property; (2) a location with key telephone systems; and (3) MLTS operators with fewer than 49 work stations and occupying 40,000 square feet or less on a single, contiguous property.

The bill defines “key telephone system” as a type of multi-line telephone system designed to provide shared access to several outsidelines.

Providers of Shared Services

Providers who share telecommunications and information management services must ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public telephone network so that 9-1-1 calls from any telephone show the ALI for each provider's ERL.

Hotels and Motels

Hotel and motel MLTS must permit 9-1-1 calls, and the MLTS operator must ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public telephone network so that 9-1-1 calls from the hotel or motel MLTS either:

1. enable the PSAP to clearly identify the address and building unit identifier of a 9-1-1 caller through ANI or ELIN resulting in the subsequent retrieval of ALI by the PSAP for each telephone set within the facility or

2. provide an automated system that will connect the caller, PSAP, and knowledgeable designated individual at the facility when anyone dials 9-1-1. The designee may supplement or replace the ALI record with specific location information by effectively communicating the caller's specific location to the PSAP.

MLTS Operators

Where applicable, MLTS operators must arrange to update the ALI database with appropriate master street address guide valid address and callback information for each MLTS telephone so that the location information specifies the caller's ERL. They must do this as soon as practicable for new MLTS installations or within one business day after completing actual changes to existing systems. ALI database information is proprietary to MLTS operators and disclosable only for facilitating emergency response to a 9-1-1 call.

MLTS operators are considered to be in compliance with implementing regulations when the MLTS complies with E 9-1-1 generally accepted industry standards as defined by OSET. Telecommunication carriers must provide interconnectivity using generally accepted industry standards.

MLTS must support E 9-1-1 calling by using any generally accepted industry standard signaling protocol designed to automatically display caller information on the video terminal of the person taking the PSAP call, unless the MLTS operator is exempt or granted a waiver under implementing regulations.

Educational Programs

MLTS operators must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that potential 9-1-1 callers are aware of the proper procedures for calling for emergency assistance, such as first dialing the number nine to make an outside call. Dialing instruction requirements apply to all MLTS operators regardless of other applicable exemptions.

The bill allows public agencies providing 9-1-1 educational programs to develop programs to educate MLTS operators on how to access 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems and provide adequate testing of the MLTS interface to the 9-1-1 system.

Manufacturers

The bill relieves MLTS manufacturers, providers, and operators from liability for any civil damages or penalties from any act or omission, except willful or wanton misconduct, relative to developing, adopting, operating, or implementing any plan or system the bill requires. The bill states that it is not intended to relieve employers of their obligations under federal and state workplace occupational safety and health statutes and regulations.

Alternatives

In facilities offering alternative and adequate means of intercepting emergency calls, the bill requires training for individuals intercepting calls in accordance with the bill's regulations.

Exemptions

Any MLTS with a single ERL and fewer than 49 stations is not required to comply with MLTS regulations. But requirements for MLTS and wireless MLTS operators to provide dialing instructions still apply.

MLTS operators that employ alternative methods of E 9-1-1 support do not have to comply with the bill.

The bill's regulations do not apply to the following types of equipment until two years after the effective date of a Federal Communications Commission ruling addressing implementation of E 9-1-1 support by such equipment: (1) MLTS wireless telephones; (2) MLTS Internet Protocol (IP) telephones (e.g., Vonage); and (3) IP-based MLTS. An MLTS using a combination of conventional stations and IP or wireless stations is subject to this exemption for all calls made from the IP-based or wireless stations.

Waivers and Compliance Deadlines

An MLTS installed after September 30, 2008 must be installed in compliance with the bill and implementing regulations. Those that predate October 2, 2006, or are installed within two years of the date that E 9-1-1 MLTS support service is available, must comply by October 1, 2013. Support service is deemed available if (1) the serving central office may accept ELIN information for the MLTS using generally accepted industry standard interfaces, (2) facilities are in place to accept the ERL information MLTS provides, and (3) the PSAP is equipped to use the ERL information.

MLTS operators may choose the industry standard interface. Operators of MLTS systems not connected to the E 9-1-1 system because the chosen interface standard is not available from the local exchange carrier must inform OSET.

MLTS operators not exempt from regulations may seek a waiver from OSET if bringing the system into compliance is impractical. Local exchange carriers cannot grant waivers or enforce compliance.

BACKGROUND

MLTS

Multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) are known as private telephone systems or PBX. They allow businesses and organizations to have many phones in one location or many phones on one phone switch serving dispersed geographic locations. The systems are characterized by a central switch and a number of extensions, which usually require the dialing of an extra digit (such as “9”) to reach an outside phone connection. The E 9-1-1 system can identify only the location of the private telephone switch that facilitated the routing of the 9-1-1 call to the public telephone network, which could be in a different building or town.

Legislative History

On April 5, the Senate referred the bill (File 93) to the Appropriations Committee, which changed the effective date to October 1, 2008, from of October 1, 2006.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Safety and Security Committee

Joint Favorable Change of Reference

Energy and Technology Committee

Joint Favorable

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute