Panel Weighs Ohio NG-911 Upgrade
Ohio should pass a bill to fund and construct a next-generation 911 network by extending a wireless-only 911 fee to other voice services, said Republican and Democratic state representatives at a livestreamed Tuesday hearing. The bill would ensure "reliable, accurate, equitable, and state-of-the-art access to emergency services regardless of location,” HB-445 sponsor Rep. Rick Carfagna (R) told the Transportation and Public Safety Committee. Committee members who asked questions mostly supported the effort, though some asked about costs.
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Existing 911 infrastructure was made for landlines, and NG-911 would natively support smartphones and IP-based devices that are now much more popular, said Carfagna. Co-sponsor Rep. Kent Smith (D) said “text and data to 911 can mean the difference between life and death” for people with anxiety disorders or speech or language disabilities. He said it can “save lives of domestic abuse victims or in active shooter incidents or in a multitude of other situations where non-voice communications are needed.”
HB-445 would require counties to support NG-911 five years after a proposed statewide core services system is ready. The system would be funded by the existing 25 cents monthly surcharge on wireless, which would be extended to landline and VoIP lines. The fee would remain 25 cents for two years, could increase to 30 cents in years three to seven, then would return to 25 cents in year eight. Half the fee revenue would support NG-911 construction and projected vendor costs, while 47% would support an existing 911 government assistance fund that helps localities with upgrade costs to connect to NG-911. The bill said 2% would go to the existing 911 program fund and 1% would handle 911 fee administration by Ohio’s tax department. Lawmakers will explore using federal coronavirus relief funds to at least partially offset cost, Carfagna told the committee.
Rep. Jessica Miranda (D) raised concern about the fee cap since she said Ohio has the second lowest 911 fee in the U.S. Miranda asked if limiting fees to 30 cents will meet local first-response needs. Carfagna said extending the wireless-only fee to other telecom services means a big jump in revenue that's expected to bring in more than $59 million annually, enough to fund NG-911 construction and more. Localities could add their own levies, he said.
Rep. Rodney Creech (R) asked if this is an “unfunded mandate” for localities to shift to NG-911. Carfagna sees it as a “funded mandate” and thinks five years is plenty of time for localities to update their equipment. Building a statewide NG-911 backbone could create cost efficiencies, Carfagna said in response to a question by ranking member Michael Sheehy (D).
Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R) said he experienced misrouting of a 911 call to an incorrect jurisdiction and asked if NG-911 will enhance location detection. It will, said Carfagna.