As part of our ongoing efforts to improve safety and compliance, we are implementing changes to the E911 (Enhanced 911) emergency calling functionality in Microsoft Teams. This update introduces dynamic location services, which will more accurately determine and share your location during emergency calls, whether you're on campus, working remotely, or at home. This aligns with regulatory requirements for accurate emergency routing and ensures faster response times from Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
How Dynamic E911 Works in Teams
Here's a high-level overview of the process:
- Location Detection: When you initiate a 911 call in Teams, the app first attempts to determine your location dynamically. It prioritizes device location services (e.g., Wi-Fi, GPS) if enabled, falling back to network-based identification or your registered static office location if needed.
- Call Routing: The detected location (a civic address or coordinates) is shared with the emergency service provider, who routes the call to the appropriate PSAP.
- Notifications: Designated responders (e.g., campus security) may receive an alert with your location and call details for immediate assistance. You can also configure personal emergency contacts if desired.
- Fallback: If no location can be determined, Teams will prompt you to enter one manually before completing the call.
This dynamic approach supports remote and hybrid work while complying with Kari's Law and RAY BAUM's Act, which mandate accurate location sharing for 911 calls.
Setting Your Location in Teams
To ensure optimal performance, we recommend verifying or setting your emergency location in Teams:
- Open the Teams app and navigate to the Calls section.
- Below the dial pad, look for the "Emergency location" dropdown (it may say "Location not detected" initially).
- Click it to add, edit, or confirm your address. Use the map search for precision.
- For remote locations like home, enter your full civic address (street, city, state, ZIP).
This manual setting acts as a backup if dynamic detection fails.
Enabling Location Services on Your Computer
To allow Teams to access your location for emergency purposes, we'll remotely enable location services on college-managed devices via IT policies. This is a one-time setup and requires your approval for privacy reasons. Here's what to expect:
- On Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location. Ensure "Location services" is On, and allow Teams under app permissions. Select "Allow apps to access your location" and choose "While using the app" or "Always" for Teams.
- On Mac: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Enable it globally and specifically for Teams.
- Once enabled, Teams can use your device's GPS, Wi-Fi, or IP to pinpoint your location dynamically.
This permission is solely for emergency calling and does not affect other Teams features.
Verifying E911 at Home
Working from home? You can easily check if your E911 setup is working:
- In the Calls section of Teams, review the emergency location displayed below the dial pad.
- To test without placing a real 911 call, dial 933 (if enabled in our system) to hear back your registered location via an automated message. Never use 911 for testing.
- Ensure your device's location services are active (steps below) for the most accurate dynamic detection.
If the location appears inaccurate (e.g., off by more than a few hundred meters), update it manually or contact IT for assistance.
Approval Popup in Teams
When you first use emergency calling features or after the update, you may see a popup in Teams requesting approval for sharing emergency location data. This is a standard consent dialog to confirm you're okay with Teams accessing your location during 911 calls. Simply review and approve it, this is quick and ensures compliance. If you see this, it's a sign the dynamic E911 is active on your device.