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Dec
6
I received word today from my state representative Josh Mandel’s office (R, Lyndhurst) (he was vice chair of the House’s Public Utilities Committee prior to departing for military service this summer; he’s been replaced by Shannon Jones (R-67), who appears to have a lot of responsibilities, especially for a freshman) about the briefings described in this notice:
On Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 9-1-1 officials representing counties throughout the state will converge on The State Capitol to participate in the “9-1-1 Goes to Columbus” event – a series of briefings with state legislators on the status of efforts to secure funding for wireless E9-1-1 in Ohio. Reps. Larry Flowers and Steven Driehaus will introduce legislation to continue funding for wireless E9-1-1. The briefings will be followed by a press conference in the Statehouse Atrium at 11 a.m. ET. Currently there is a “Sunset” provision in Section 4931.61 of the Revised Code. If not removed, this provision will result in Ohio’s Wireless E9-1-1 funding source expiring on December 31, 2008, compromising the safety of Ohioans by making it more difficult for emergency responders to find them.
In April, Victoria Eilerman, mother of Fort Loramie Mayor Philip Eilerman, was tragically murdered. She made three 9-1-1 calls to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office using her cell phone from the trunk of her abductor’s car, however, authorities were unable to determine her location. At the press conference, Mayor Eilerman will give a first-hand account of the importance of continuing wireless E9-1-1 funding.
“The technology that could have helped emergency responders locate my mother must be available to Shelby County officials and officials statewide,” said Mayor Eilerman. “Unless this sunset provision is removed, that simply will not happen.”
“The ball is in our court at the statehouse to do what is best for Ohio’s citizens,” said Rep. Flowers. “At $3.84 per citizen, roughly the price of a Happy Meal at McDonald’s, Ohioans can get the wireless 9-1-1 service they deserve.”
I’ve been writing about this topic for a long time, so I’m very pleased to see bi-partisan support for this move. As someone who just received notification by reverse wireless and landline 911 calls (of an emergency school closing due to a power outage), the fact that so many people exist without landlines was really made obvious to me. Ohio has the chance to protect itself now for future eventualities of any kind by making sure we have the infrastructure and the funds to build, maintain and grow it.
I will post links to the bill as soon as they are available.
Here’s some info from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio about E911:
Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1
Legislation signed into law in 2005 provided a way to fund enhanced 9-1-1 for wireless phones in the state. The legislation designates the PUCO as the agency with authority to carry out the provisions of the law.
As with 9-1-1 service for traditional wireline phones, each county is responsible for the implementation of enhanced wireless 9-1-1. There are two phases to the plan. The first phase allows for 9-1-1 call centers to receive the automatic number identification and the location of the cellular tower transmitting 9-1-1 calls from wireless phones. The second phase also provides the call center with the automatic location information for responders to have a more precise location of the caller.
Wireless customers throughout Ohio pay a monthly 32 cent surcharge per wireless line to fund enhanced wireless 9-1-1 capabilities.
Update: Here’s a few more specifics in a 12/2/07 piece in the Dover-New Philadelphia Times Reporter. Other elected folks to be targeted:
The [Tuscarawas] county officials hope to talk about the surcharge with Reps. Allan Sayre and Mark Okey and Sens. Jason Wilson and John Boccieri at the event and are urging county residents to contact the legislators about the matter as well.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:41 pm December 6th, 2007 in Government, Ohio, Politics, Utilities
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10 Responses to “[updated] Driehaus, Flowers bill will support funding of wireless 911; briefings on 12/4”
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Good info, Jill…thanks for the update! I, too, am glad to see bipartisan support for something so vital. A lot of counties have relied upon this to provide a good 9-1-1 service.
Hope the support will continue until the bill is voted upon and passed!
Thanks, Maggie. Do you have an opinion you could share as to how realistic the amount of the fee is? I know other states’ fees vary from as low as ours is right now, 33 cents, up to $3.00. I would think that the amount might be one point of discussion: how much is needed, what is it needed for, how does it vary from county to county (in terms of needs and the cost to meet the needs) etc.
I am a 9-1-1 Coordinator. The 32 cent fee is realistic overall. It will hurt our county only because we currently have a landline fee of 50 cents. When those people switch our county will be losing funding. Overall the amount of money generated with the 32 cents is enough to implement and to mainitain Phase 2 service (locating wireless callers)The funding is needed for mapping, equipment to find the callers and personnel to handle larger call volume and fees that 9-1-1 centers have to pay to phone companies. What varies county to county is what is already in place and what needs to be put in place as far as mapping, equipment and personnel. Please show your support for this continued funding!! It is important for all of that travel and use our cell phones everyday at home or work.
Kim – thanks for reading and commenting. What do you think about the hike to over $3? Is that necessary? It might be – I simply don’t know. What’s your opinion on how the amount is determined, statewide?
I have not heard any thing about a hike to $3.00. I can’t imagine that would be neccessary at all for the expense that is now allowable from the wireless money. The 32 cent amount was an educated guess based on information available when the legislation was written a few years ago. This year the state 9-1-1 Coordinator took a survey of counties to see how much has been spent on implementation and what is still needed. He used that information to determiine that the 32 cent amount is enough, we just need to change the formula somewhat so that the smaller counties can get a larger amount of money to help offset the expense. The larger counties were willing to take a small cut to make this happen. In the original formula each county was given a minimum of $25,000 with the new legislation we would like to make the minimum 90,000 which is more realistic in meeting wireless expense.
Hi Kim – Rep. Flowers says this in the above source: “The ball is in our court at the statehouse to do what is best for Ohio’s citizens,” said Rep. Flowers. “At $3.84 per citizen, roughly the price of a Happy Meal at McDonald’s, Ohioans can get the wireless 9-1-1 service they deserve.”
Maybe that’s not the fee amount though, just the cost? I’m not sure – what do you think?
The monthly fee now is .32 cents and that is what we are asking to be continued. $3.84 is the cost per year to continue 32cents per month.
I was thrilled to see a good show of support from emergency services, county and city officails yesterday at the press conference. I heard a few state reps and senators passed through while it was going on.
Thanks so much for the clarification, Kim, and the update. I see a couple of news stories and will link to them. If there’s other info you think would be helpful to Ohioans, about this topic, feel free to post them or e-mail me.
If you don’t mind I would like to ask a question to you and your readers. When you went to purchase your cell phone, if you were ask to purchase a feature so that 9-1-1 could find you in an emergency what you be willing to pay for that? I’m not sure what people pay for OnStar services but that is somewhat similar to the wireless 9-1-1 service. Consider what you pay for text messaging and navigation services etc. They all cost a lot more than 32cents per month. I will look for the news links, thanks a lot!!
Kim – I think that’s a perfectly acceptable question. I will post it as an entry though probably not today. Thanks for whatever else you want to pass along – again, I think this is so critical, to get this infrastructure in place now.