STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI
Re:	Implementing Kari’s Law and Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act, PS Docket No. 18-261; Inquiry Concerning 911 Access, Routing, and Location in Enterprise Communications Systems, PS Docket No. 17-239.
For nearly five years, I’ve had the honor of working alongside Hank Hunt.  From my first talk with him in December 2013—just a few weeks after his daughter was murdered—to our most recent in-person conversation—after the President of the United States signed legislation bearing his late daughter’s name—he has been a model of courage and an inspiration to me. 
As Hank has described this morning, his daughter Kari was attacked and killed by her estranged husband in a Marshall, Texas hotel room.  Her nine-year-old daughter was in the room and tried calling 911 on the hotel phone.  Kari’s daughter dialed 911 four times during her mother’s attack.  But not one of her calls ever reached 911 because the hotel phone required guests to dial a “9” for an outbound line before dialing 911.
Since that day—out of grief and a desire to make a change—Hank has worked tirelessly to tell Kari’s story.  I’ve seen him work for a while, so I wasn’t surprised that he was able to get results.  As I said a few years ago, he’s a great example of the old saying that “one man with courage makes a majority.”
One of the most remarkable results came earlier this year.  In February, Congress passed the Kari’s Law Act of 2017, which requires multi-line telephone systems (MLTS), such as the hotel phone used by Kari’s daughter, to permit users to directly dial 911 without having to dial any additional digit, code, prefix, or the like.  And on February 16 of this year—which happened to be the 50th anniversary of the first 911 call made in the United States—Hank and I stood together in the Oval Office as President Trump signed Kari’s Law.  It’s hard to describe what it meant to see Hank and his now-13-year-old granddaughter at that moment.
Now, it’s our turn to act for Kari.  In this Notice, we propose rules to implement Kari’s Law so that when Americans dial 911 from multi-line telephone systems, which are commonly used in office buildings and hotels as well as on campuses, they can reach emergency services.  
But sometimes, being able to reach emergency services isn’t enough.  For example, if you’re calling 911 from a large office building, it’s important that first responders know where you are in that building so they can find you.  That’s why we’re also proposing to mandate that 911 calls from MLTS include a dispatchable location and that this requirement take effect at the same time as the compliance date set forth in Kari’s Law.  And we are seeking comment on the feasibility of requiring a dispatchable location for 911 calls from other technological platforms, including fixed telephony services, interconnected and other VoIP services, and Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Services, pursuant to Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act.  
Finally, as a matter of good government, we’re proposing to consolidate the Commission’s existing 911 rules in one place.  Today, those rules are scattered throughout Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  
In conclusion, I want to thank Hank for coming here today.  I know it’s been a long road.  But the fact that the FCC is implementing a law named after your daughter is a testament to your dedication.  And it proves that Kari did not die in vain.
I also want to thank those in Congress who sponsored Kari’s Law as well as those who sponsored RAY BAUM’S Act.  And many thanks to the FCC staff who furthered Kari’s memory by working on this important item: William Beckwith, Brenda Boykin, Ken Carlberg, John Evanoff, Lisa Fowlkes, Nellie Foosaner, David Furth, John Healy, Erika Olsen, Austin Randazzo, Rasoul Safavian, Emily Talaga, James Wiley, and Michael Wilhelm from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau; Robert Aldrich, Rosaline Crawford, Elliot Greenwald, Debra Patkin, Karen Peltz Strauss, Suzy Rosen Singleton, and Michael Scott from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau; Rizwan Chowdhry, Matthew Conaty, Jonathan Garvin, JoAnn Lucanik, and Jeremy Marcus from the Enforcement Bureau; Stephen Duall, Jennifer Gilsenan, Jim Schlichting, and Troy Tanner from the International Bureau; Chana Wilkerson from the Office of Communications Business Opportunities; Brian Butler, Rashmi Doshi, Walter Johnston, Aspasia Paroutsas, and Jamison Prime from the Office of Engineering and Technology; David Horowitz, William Richardson, Anjali Singh, and Ryan Yates from the Office of General Counsel; Aleta Bowers, Katura Jackson, and Cecilia “Ceci” Sigmund from the Office of the Secretary; Babette Boliek, Eric Burger, and Chuck Needy from the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis; Michele Berlove, Kirk Burgee, Lina Hone, Daniel Kahn, Rodger Woock, and Cathy Zima from the Wireline Competition Bureau; and Jonathan Campbell, Tom Derenge, Charles Mathias, Aalok Mehta, Roger Noel, Becky Schwartz, Blaise Scinto, and Scot Stone from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.