The December 13 Election Information
(Courtesy of Washington County)
ON DECEMBER 13 TH VOTERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
AND 22 OTHER OKLAHOMA COUNTIES WILL VOTE
ON ADDING A WIRELESS 911 SERVICE FEE,
50 CENTS PER MONTH TO THEIR CELL PHONE BILL .
Q: How will the funding be used?
A: To Improve and operate the enhanced 9-1-1 system; To make it compatible with wireless phones; To provide vital location information and the cellular call-back numbers needed; Provide education for call takers on the new technology.
Q: Is the 50 cents more than what we're paying now for land line 9-1-1 service?
A: No, 50 cents is less. Since the Enhanced 911 system was put in place in 1992, it has been funded by a 5% service fee on the base rate of residential and business land-line phones, an average monthly fee of 63 cents.
Q. How does this compare to other states?
A: In some states, the service charge for wireless 9-1-1 is up to $3.00 a month. Thirty-one states have established rates above 50 cents. Eight states are set at 50 cents, and the remaining states either have lower rates, or have not yet established a rate plan.
Q: How should I respond now if I have to call 9-1-1 from my cell phone?
A: Be prepared to say what community you are in, you may not reach the local dispatch center. Know where the call taker is, i.e. Bartlesville, Tulsa, Oklahoma City.
Give the dispatcher your call-back phone number and as much information as you can about your location.
Be patient in case your call can be transferred to another call center or you loose your cell signal. With your call-back number, the dispatcher will call back.
Don't hang up any 9-1-1 call until you're instructed to hang-up.
Q: We already have 9-1-1, why do we need a new system for cell phones?
A: Cell phone calls to 9-1-1 are many times mobile calls. Finding someone in an emergency requires good directions and people in emergencies can seldom give good directions. They don’t know where they are (where on an interstate, where in the park or on the lake.) Technology is available to provide GPS or triangulated coordinate location information with each wireless 9-1-1 call. Without it, wireless callers are more at risk due to vital information not being received automatically at the emergency answering point. Currently in Washington County, dispatchers receive no location information and no call back phone number with wireless (cellular) 911 calls.
Q: Will 50 cents per month bring us up to date and help me in a wireless 9-1-1 emergency?
A:The 50 cents collected from each cell phone user per month goes to a dedicated, audited fund that is used to upgrade and maintain the 9-1-1 system network. 911 dispatch will receive 49 cents of every 50 cents collected.
Q: WHAT DOES IT COST ME?
A: A 50 cent service fee charged on each cell phone monthly, $6.00 per year. Your investment means 49 cents goes to fund the 911 center to a dedicated, audited fund that is used for upgrades, maintenance and operations of countywide 9-1-1.
Q: WHAT WILL IT DO FOR ME?
A: It will allow our county to move forward to provide locatable information and a call-back number when you call 9-1-1 from your cellular telephone. Information vital to getting you help quickly in an emergency.
Q: WHY NOW?
A: Lives and property are at stake. Location information in an emergency is vital. Statutes require a revenue stream, the 50 cent fee be in place before the cellular companies will provide the emergency call takers location information.
WIRELESS 9-1-1 FACTS
County-wide elections are being held throughout Northeastern OklahomaDecember 13, 2005.
This information is provided by Washington County.