Springfield, IL. -On June 30, Illinois closed the 2004 fiscal year with a $1,325,480 diversion from its State wireless E9-1-1 fund.
Money from this fund is distributed to 9-1-1 systems in the State of Illinois to operate 9-1-1 and implement life-saving technology to serve the public in times of an emergency. Without access to these funds, local 9-1-1 systems may not be able to instantly identify the location of a wireless caller.
The State of Illinois collects a $0.75 surcharge on all wireless phone bills. Stated as an “E9-1-1” line item on consumer phone bills, the surcharge is used to maintain existing systems and implement new services.
A National Issue: Illinois Problems
Approximately 93 percent of the nation’s emergency call centers (called PSAPs, or public safety answering points) have “enhanced” 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) for wireline callers, which means automated systems can identify the caller’s number and physical location, and route the call to a PSAP designated for that location. But only about 28 percent of the country’s call centers are capable of determining the precise location of at least some of the wireless callers dialing 9-1-1. In the state of Illinois roughly 24% of the State’s Counties are capable of determining location information in the PSAP.
There are two primary reasons for this situation: the stress on local emergency response systems from the enormous growth in wireless telephony, and the improper siphoning of public funds that have been set aside to upgrade the 9-1-1 system.
As wireless phones have proliferated, so have wireless 9-1-1 calls. Depending on the local area, 25 to 60 percent of all calls to 9-1-1 come from wireless phones, for a total of nearly 140 million nationwide. Yet most local call centers lack the technology needed to pinpoint callers’ location so that help can be sent quickly.
Compounding the problem nationally, in many states and localities, the money collected from wireless customers for the purpose of upgrading the 9-1-1 system has been diverted to other purposes or withheld.
Illinois NENA is asking all citizens to contact their State legislators and ask that wireless 9-1-1 funds get spent they way they should, for 9-1-1.
Federal Legislation: Addresses 9-1-1 System, Budgetary and Coordination Problems
This past year, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus, Sens. Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced legislation to end the raiding of 9-1-1 funds and speed E9-1-1 implementation and improve coordination among all levels of government. Under the proposed legislation, Illinois would be ineligible to receive federal money to improve the 9-1-1 system, because of the recent diversion by Governor Blagojevich.
House bill (H.R. 2898), introduced by Representative Shimkus was approved by the full House in a unanimous voice vote on November 4, 2003. Companion legislation in the United States Senate (S. 1250) is pending action on the Senate floor.
Nationally NENA is working with the sponsors and other members of the Congressional E91-1 Caucus to finalize the legislation and send it to President Bush for his signature.
