SBC/Ameritech said it must ask Mich. PSC for authority to charge ...
SBC/Ameritech said it must ask Mich. PSC for authority to charge local 911 dispatching centers for each 911 emergency call placed from a cellphone, but some local govts. say they will oppose fee. Ameritech was to file its request…
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at PSC Tues. In most of Mich., 911 centers for rural areas are run by Mich. State Police and those in urban areas by local sheriff’s department or police department Ameritech said it needed to charge fee to recoup its costs of implementing wireless E911 location capability and that it’s entitled under federal Telecom Act to cost recovery. Ameritech said it would propose specific fee in its cost testimony. In neighboring Ill., Ameritech last year won state regulatory approval for fee of $1.36 per wireless 911 call, and Mich. localities are upset by prospect of similar- sized Mich. fee. Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept., which handles 911 calls for city of Pontiac and 13 other metro Detroit suburbs, said it handled 123,000 wireless 911 calls last year, and fee like that approved in Ill. would add expense of more than $165,000 for county that’s already looking at $12 million budget shortfall in 2004. Deputy County Executive Robert Daddow said he would ask county commission at its Sept. 16 meeting to adopt resolution opposing fee.