Organizations and businesses, alike, understand full well the importance that public safety plays in their day-to-day operations. So, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of businesses and educational facilities are exploring high-tech solutions, such as Enhanced 9-1-1, or 'E911' services, to help them meet their emergency preparedness needs.

 

Officials from 911 ETC, an Everett, Wash.-based E911 hosted solutions provider, said they have witnessed an uptick in the number of organizations deploying E911 services. Whether it’s a small business or school, “everyone deserves E911 protection,” according to the company’s Web site.

 

The lack of accurate location information attached to outgoing 911 calls is a top safety concern. Often the responsibility and liability fall on the multi-line telephone system owner. But 911 ETC said its RedConnect product can help solve the problem.

 

Powered by 911 ETC, RedConnect gives SMBs, assisted living facilities, schools systems and small colleges a hosted and cost-effective solution to deploy E911 services. The solution uses traditional telco emergency routing and is compatible with a PBX (News - Alert), VoIP, or hybrid environment. The company, which recently relaunched the solution, is offering a free RedConnect assessment at its new Web site.

 

 

While 22 states now have E911 laws or legislation pending, the need for widespread E911 solutions is still prevalent, especially in school systems. While many colleges and schools, including the Charles Wright Academy, a private Washington state-based independent grade school for students in pre-K through 12^th grade, have taken steps to implement an E911 solution, many remain unprotected, leaving students and staff at risk if an emergency occurred.

 

When Charles Wright Academy officials sought to update its PBX system, they used the opportunity to enhance its E911 offering. School officials wanted to better protect its faculty and students in the event of an on-campus emergency. And the reasons were obvious. The site is made up of several buildings that are spread out across campus. And because each building shares the same address, first responders would likely be unsure where to go if an emergency occurred.

 

So, the academy contacted 911 ETC for help. With RedConnect, the academy not only received an affordable full-service implementation, the solution also fully integrated with the academy’s new Avaya (News - Alert) PBX site administration.

 

During the installation, Charles Wright Academy only had to provide its DID number range, address and a list of active phones with corresponding locations.  Meanwhile, 911 ETC provided CLEC PS/ALI access, formatting, data processing and data upload to the 911 database. The company also offers ongoing monthly maintenance to ensure accuracy of the E911 database.

 

“Ours was a legacy phone system which had been managed by several people over the years, so our data was a complete mess,” Lauren McMason of Charles Wright Academy, said. “911 ETC made the process of going from nothing to a full E911 implementation about as easy as it could be.”

 

For more on RedConnect or 911 ETC, visit the E911 Hosted Solutions channel here on TMCnet.