State bill would continue 911 fee on cell phones

Legislation approved two years ago established the 32-cent-per-month fee.

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — Two state lawmakers plan to introduce legislation extending collections of a fee on cell phone users used to fund wireless 911 systems throughout the state but set to expire at the end of next year.

Republican Rep. Larry Flowers from the Columbus area and Democratic Rep. Steve Driehaus from the Cincinnati area announced their intentions during a press conference Wednesday to postpone the sunset on wireless E911 fees.

The event was attended by dozens of representatives from law enforcement and emergency responder agencies, who have called on lawmakers in recent months to preserve the funding stream.

Legislation approved two years ago established the 32-cent-per-month fee on cell phone users, with a provision that it expire as of December 2008. The funds have been used to pay for wireless 911 systems, including those that identify the location of callers seeking assistance.

Without the funding, law enforcement and emergency responders may not have access to those systems, proponents say.

Such was the case with the elderly mother of Philip Eilerman, mayor of Fort Loramie in western Ohio, who earlier this year was abducted and killed. The victim, locked in the trunk of her abductor’s vehicle, called 911 three times, but law enforcement could not pinpoint her location.

“We feel that 32 cents a month is a small price to pay to prevent such a tragedy [from happening] to anyone else,” Eilerman said. Flowers and Driehaus said the funding is needed to maintain and build 911 response systems in all Ohio’s counties. “We need to ensure that each and every Ohioan has the ability to call 911 and to be sure that that 911 call is being answered,” Driehaus said.