The Columbus-Lowndes E-911 board of commissioners Tuesday was presented with proposed legislation to help counties improve collection of E-911 fees.
Lauderdale County Supervisor Craig Hitt met with commissioners at their regular meeting. Sen. Terry Brown, R-Columbus, Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, County Administrator Ralph Billingsley and Columbus” chief operations officer, David Armstrong, also were on hand for the meeting.
A plan is being proposed to the Mississippi Legislature to use one standard uniform statewide rate — $1.50 — for all providers of land-line phone and cell phones, Hitt said. This would be designated for 911 services.
“Right now, businesses are charged $2 for land line and cell phones, and residences are charged $1 for both,” Hitt said
The bill also would create a higher quality standard for 911 service, allow for more accurate collection and distribution of 911 surcharges and help counties provide better 911 services. The move would not raise taxes nor require any additional funding from the state.
Hitt said new federal law includes voice over Internet phone, or VOIP, service as part of all services covered by 911 and 911 fees.
“Because VOIP can be land line or wireless, the federal government mandated that no one class of service may be charged different rates or terms than another,” he said.
No action was taken on the matter.
In other business, the commissioners elected new officers for 2009-10. Bernice Lile was chosen as the new chairwoman of the board, replacing Beverly Broocks. Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John was chosen as the new vice chairman.
Columbus-Lowndes E-911 Director Sheri Fancher gave the monthly activity report for October. The total number of calls for October was 6,135.
“With the holidays coming, there will be more calls,” she said.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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