AUGUSTA, Maine — Mainers will have to pay more each month on their phone bill to help fund the state’s E-911 system, and the fee will be extended to other communications devices under a measure introduced this week.
The Public Utilities Commission’s proposal would increase the E-911 fee from 45 to 50 cents per phone line or cell phone account and would add the fee to the data plans of devices such as iPads and medical equipment capable of sending messages to the emergency response system.
“The number the PUC has put forth is 5 cents,” said Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. “But the committee will look at this and determine whether that is the right number to make sure we have the resources in the fund to do what needs to be done.”
A formal fiscal note for the measure has not been completed, but PUC administrative director Karen Geraghty said her staff’s preliminary estimate is that $946,308 a year in additional revenue will be raised. The new revenue will help pay for upgrades in equipment needed to handle new communications technology.
The state share of E-911 costs is $8.9 million from the fee on phone bills and a study done for the PUC estimates local governments spend another $9 million a year to support the system.
As committee co-chairman, Fitts is sponsoring the bill for the PUC. He said he supports an increase to fund the “next generation” of 911 emergency services but the commission will have to make its case that the proposed increase is appropriate.
“Our telecommunications system is evolving,” Fitts said. “In order to get proper caller ID, all of the systems have to be compatible and it’s all part of the next gen.”
The contract for operating the new system is being negotiated but E-911 bureau director Maria Jacques estimates it will save $100,000 of the $560,000-a-month cost to the state. The savings, however, are more than offset by the cost of the equipment needed to handle the new technology.
Fitts said there are several communications devices that will have the ability to communicate with emergency services dispatchers with the improved system such as iPads and similar devices.
“There are devices out there like a pacemaker that can call 911 if a person is having a problem,” Fitts said. “The new system will have the ability to take those messages and get the help to the person.”
Jacques said while the new system will have new capabilities, they will not all become operational as soon as the new system is in place. She said it will take time to phase in such capabilities as receiving text messages at the centers.
Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, the Democratic lead on the committee, said he agreed with Fitts that some sort of fee increase is needed to pay for the upgrade of the system.
“The fee issue has not been that contentious in the committee,” he said. “What we are trying to do all the time is achieve a balance where the E-911 system is well funded, but we don’t accumulate a surplus.”
Hinck said the committee reduced the fee a few years ago after a healthy surplus in the fund was taken by the Appropriations Committee to help balance the state general fund budget. In 2008 the fee had been 50 cents a month and was lowered to 30 cents after the fund surplus was diverted. It was raised to 45 cents in 2009.
Hinck said he agreed with the expansion of the fee to any device that can communicate with the 911 system. He said it is impossible to predict what new technologies may be developed to expand the reach of 911.
“Anybody who becomes a user of the system should become a contributor to the system as well,” he said. “That has to be part of the equation.”
Fitts said the fee will be discussed in conjunction with other E-911 issues facing the committee. A public hearing on the measure will be scheduled next month.
We do not need this mentality of raising taxes in Maine.
So which would you prefer keeping the fee at 45 cents and not allow new forms of technology to be able to access the E911 system. Or perhaps we should just do away with it and all services that might charge a fee for use. Where do you expect funding for the system to come from as the costs of everything goes up.
It doesn’t charge a “fee for use.” If it did, you would only be charged the fee if you called 911. Instead it charges a “fee” to all cell phone users, whether you call 911 or not. That’s a tax.
The article calls it a fee.
NO MORE TAXES. I am now paying just about the same amount in fees as my telephone bill costs. STOP IT NOW.
I’m gonna lose sleep with this .60 cent/year rip off…..I mean 911 upgrades, you think they would have more important things to spend money on.
Your mind set is the reason taxes are as high as they are………….it’s only a few more cents and before you know it the phone bill has $10 worth of taxes per month on it, like it does now and fuel costs oh say 50 cents more per gallon what would be a few more pennies on top of that, it’s just pennies or a nickel. There’s an old saying “Mind your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves”
It was just raised again in 2009 from 30 to 45 cents. Plus, this is not just an increase on the present telephone lines, it is expanding the fee to ipads (for which we already pay the fee (3G or 4G) to the provider of the service) and whatever comes along in the future. Plus, this fee only supports equipment for the dispatch centers, which are a small number. It doesn’t support staff or anything else. It seems to me that the only things that keep increasing are our taxes and the cost of fees, etc. For an administration that feels we shouldn’t increase taxes, this should not be allowed.
Wow you need to change phone companies then.
Actually, it means that I pay very little for my basic land line phone. Maybe, you should change phone companies. And, for those who think we should rely on cell phones, we are paying the same fees on our cell phones.
Time to get rid of land lines and rely on cell phones, I guess.
The fee goes for both cell and land based phones, so it doesn’t matter they get you either way. Just remember who brought this in November please! NO MORE TAXES OR FEES if that’s what they want to call a higher tax.
Tin Can…string…the only way you can avoid this tax…for now anyways, wait until a lawmaker from the state reads this, I just gave some genius another idea for a stupid bill.
Well there, now there will be a fee on string and tin cans!
Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, the Democratic lead on the committee, said he agreed with Fitts that some sort of fee increase is needed to pay for the upgrade of the system.
If you take a look at your wallet, the dollars used to fund it, could actually help fund this system if you and some of your fellow colleagues would pitch in.
so what’s your point? It the repugs that have control of all 3 branches. It’s the Repugs that can now do something about lowering the taxes in this state. I have to see a bill from them does so….
How about a bill forbidding “surplus” from being diverted to balancing budget schemes. Once again politicians steal money intended for other uses and then raise user “fee” to pay it back.
Some nerve calling it a fee instead of a tax – like that makes it okay!
The PUC does not get one cent from the general fund.
Your example is totally unrelated to this issue.
“Hinck said the committee reduced the fee a few years ago after a healthy surplus in the fund was taken by the Appropriations Committee to help balance the state general fund budget. In 2008 the fee had been 50 cents a month and was lowered to 30 cents after the fund surplus was diverted. It was raised to 45 cents in 2009. ”
You are 1/2 right. The PUC does not get the extra money. The article does not state where the extra money went, but it went somewhere it was not intended. It was not returned to the taxpayers where it was generated.
Ya a start would be social security.
This is a scam. The money isn’t even used for what it is intended for.
A fee increase for a system that is dysfunctional. You live in Augusta, you call 911, it goes to Skowhegan PSAP who answers the call, then sends you back to Augusta Police who then get you help. Pretty stupid !
This is the way all 911 systems work if you have a call that requires police assistance. If it was an ambulance call, they would dispatch the unit directly for you. If you want the police, call their number directly.
majic jack
you pay the tax there as well…
land line includes about 10$ month taxes including this one or 120$ . Majic jack is 19.95 year total so you can choke these losers with thier justifications for taxes by finding other ways to egt the same services.
the people getting the free cell phones dont pay also
When adn where will the tax increases end? There has to be a limit and we must be getting close to that limit now.
It’s a nickel and it funds a pretty important service. Cool it with the hyperbole, bonhomme.
Cool it? It funds something and we are not sure that it goes where it is supposed to go. It seems we are getting a penny , or nickle tax increase all the time. It is only a penny or a nickle. Somewhere at some point it has to stop. They who are taxing must close the gap and either lay off people, cut expenses or stop taxing more.
The system is worth paying for, it has resulted in faster response times and probably saved a few lives. The only thing that bothers me is that when the tax was first proposed, it was a penny on every phone bill and we were promised that it would never be raised. Maybe the politicians should get a dictionary and look up never.
Thats right squeeze every last cent out of us “rich poor” people of maine. keep squeezing. queeze queeze….. blood suckers of maine we can just drop our pants and squeeze more if you want more!!
911 is a joke.
Until you call and the police show up and stop the guy that you saw beating a girl.
When seconds count the police are only minutes away…at best.
I for one don’t get it, maybe I’m showing my age. 911 costs money? In Maine, where the Gov. wants cut off people from state health care if you make more than 22,000 a year (for a family of four!), where unemployment is 8 or 9% etc. Who can afford iPads and 3 & 4 G phones? Why don’t we dial direct or Operater like we used too?
Wasn’t it just a few years ago that the state robbed $3+million from the 9-1-1 fund? What is needed is a law forbidding the state from raiding dedicated accounts. Put that through and maybe people would not mind so much. The 9-1-1 surcharge(tax) should only be used for 9-1-1 equipment and training not go into the general fund to cover other things.
I feel like I went to bed last night and woke up in an entirely different world. In the letters to the editor section names that are normally associated with less government are expressing a desire for special stores which would be run by either the State or Feds just for those using EBT cards (food stamps).to prevent card users from buying lobster and other food products considered by many to be a luxury. Maine in the grocery business? Right. Now I am reading where a republican wants to increase the 911 “fee”,
Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee thinks a fee increase is a good idea. Granted the 911 system is a wonderful system and has helped to save many lives, but isn’t “fee” just another name for a tax? Aren’t republicans supposed to be the ones who want to lower taxes?
An iPad cannot contact any E911 services as it is not a phone.