Pai Joins New Orleans in Push for 911 Multiline Systems

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai joined the Orleans Parish Communications District to push businesses to comply with the New Orleans commission's Jan. 6 deadline to transition their phone systems to support direct-dial access to 911 from multiline systems. "These reforms will save lives," Pai said Friday. The new law will also require businesses to identify dispatch locations for emergency responders because "they know their building the best, what doors to enter, how to get there quickly, any barriers like keys or access that will be needed," OPCD Executive Director Tyrell Morris told us: "They can have all that ready when the responders get there, so we're not delaying service even more." Morris applauded Pai's efforts and noted the next obstacle is overcoming the lack of awareness about the change. "I think a lot of it has to do with we were really waiting to see if the deadline would hold true, but now that we know that it is, the expectation is that businesses step up to communicate to their customers and this is now a requirement," Morris said.