Your school phone system might not work when it matters most. From network outages to missing 911 alerts, a school phone system emergency can put students and staff at serious risk. Let’s break down what goes wrong — and how to fix it.
The Problem: Modern Solutions to School Phone Failures
Older VoIP systems and analog phone lines were never designed for today’s emergency response needs. In many schools, these systems:
- Can’t survive a network outage
- Don’t meet current E911 compliance laws
- Fail to alert staff when 911 is called
- Depend on unreliable infrastructure
- Lack redundancy or failover protection
That means if your internet connection drops during a storm, power outage, or even a cyberattack, your phones — and your ability to call 911 — may go completely offline. Everyone in education is aware of the issues with this scenario.
The Law: E911 Compliance
Two major federal laws now govern how schools must handle emergency calls:
Ray Baum’s Act
This law requires that every 911 call include a dispatchable location — not just the building address, but the exact room, floor, or area where the call is coming from. This helps first responders reach the right spot faster.
Source:https://www.fcc.gov/911-dispatchable-location?utm_source
Kari’s Law
This mandates that 911 calls must go through without needing a prefix, and — crucially — that onsite personnel must be immediately notified any time a 911 call is made.
Source: https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements?utm_source
Many legacy systems don’t meet these standards.
The Solution: Modern VoIP with Built-In Cellular Failover
At Ambit Solutions, we build modern phone systems designed for life safety from the ground up — not just convenience.
Here’s how we make sure your school is protected:
Cellular Backup at Every Site
If your primary internet goes down, your critical phones don’t. We install LTE-based cellular failover at each site, keeping 911 and internal calls live no matter what.
Real-Time 911 Alerts to Admin Staff
Every time a 911 call is made, designated staff are notified instantly — through visual and audible alerts on their desk phones. That’s Kari’s Law in action.
Location Accuracy Down to the Room
We ensure every classroom, hallway, and office has a dispatchable location that routes with the call — meeting Ray Baum’s Act requirements with precision.
Fully Integrated with Intercoms & Emergency Systems
Phones, paging, emergency call panels — all unified under one platform. So your response plan isn’t just compliant. It’s fast.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
When a shooting occurred at a customer site in April 2025, an employee called 911 using a VoIP phone installed by Ambit. That call was automatically broadcasted to several admin phones, alerting staff in real-time — and giving them critical moments to respond before police arrived.
They didn’t expect it.
But it made all the difference.
That’s what a safety-first system is supposed to do. And that’s why every configuration we deploy includes this built-in protection.
Don’t Wait Until the System Fails
If your current phone system can’t guarantee 911 access during an outage, doesn’t alert your team when a call is made, or can’t report precise location data — it’s time to re-evaluate.
Let’s fix it before it becomes a problem.
Ambit Solutions specializes in building compliant, fail-safe communication systems for K-12 schools across the Southeast. We serve over 64% of Alabama’s public schools — and we’re ready to serve you.
Want to audit your current system for compliance?
We’ll walk your site, check your setup, and give you a clear roadmap forward — no obligations.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!
