What is Enhanced 911 (E-9-1-1)?

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What is Enhanced 911 (E-9-1-1)?

Enhanced 911 (E-9-1-1) is the emergency services system used across North America that automatically delivers a caller’s location to 9-1-1 dispatchers — so that police, fire, paramedics, and other services can respond even when a caller cannot speak or doesn’t know their address.

For landlines, E-9-1-1 provides the registered civic address. For wireless callers, it delivers GPS coordinates. Enhanced location information significantly improves response times and reliability for emergency services.

E-9-1-1 and VoIP

VoIP phone systems present unique challenges for emergency services because calls travel over the internet and can be made from any location — unlike traditional landlines tied to a fixed address.

Caution

VoIP phones do not automatically know where they are. If a user takes a desk phone home or connects from a different office, the registered E-9-1-1 address may be incorrect. Always keep your E-9-1-1 address current with your provider.

Carrier Obligations in North America

VoIP carriers are required to:

1. Provide either basic or E-9-1-1 service to all subscribers.
2. Notify customers clearly about any limitations of their VoIP 9-1-1 service.
3. Register with the appropriate regulatory authority (CRTC in Canada, FCC in the United States).
4. Keep E-9-1-1 location data up to date for all active numbers.

CRTC Requirements (Canada)

Carriers providing VoIP service in Canada must:

• Register with the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) as a reseller, or as a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) if they own transmission facilities.
• Obtain a BITS (Basic International Telecommunication Service) license from the CRTC for international operations.
• Maintain regulatory filings to keep their license and registration current.

E-9-1-1 with Nova PBX

SIPSTACK’s Nova PBX platform maintains E-9-1-1 location records for each phone number. Keep your registered address updated any time phones move to new locations.

For E-9-1-1 configuration and address updates, see E-9-1-1 — Nova PBX Docs.

Tip

For multi-location businesses, each physical location should have its own DID registered to the correct civic address for E-9-1-1 accuracy.

Related Resources

• E-9-1-1 — Nova PBX Docs
• What is STIR/SHAKEN?
• What is Call Spoofing?