Press Release

PUC Approves 911 Renewal Plans for Blair, Lawrence and Wyoming Counties

Published on 8/25/2005

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved the telephone charge residents in Blair, Lawrence and Wyoming counties must pay for their local 911 systems.

Blair County, a fifth-class county, is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per telephone line per month.  The county has a population of approximately 129,144.  Verizon PA Inc., United Telephone of Pennsylvania and various competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) serve the county.    

Lawrence County also is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per telephone line per month.  The fifth-class county has a population of approximately 94,643. Verizon PA Inc., Verizon North Inc., United Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, ALLTEL Communications Inc. and various CLECs serve the county.

Wyoming County, a seventh-class county, is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per telephone line per month.  The county has a population of approximately 28,076.  Commonwealth Telephone Company and various CLECs serve the county.

The Public Emergency Telephone Act of 1990 provides for a statewide 911 emergency communication system to be administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).  The law allows the counties to recover the cost for 911 systems by accessing a fee on every telephone line.

Local phone companies collect the fee for the counties.  The maximum fee that can be collected per telephone line is $1 for first- and second-class counties; $1.25 for third- through fifth-class counties; and $1.50 for sixth- through eighth-class counties.

The PUC reviews the contribution rates to make sure they do not exceed the allowable amount. The PUC then forwards a decision to PEMA.  The PUC has 90 days to submit its recommendation to PEMA as to whether a proposed contribution rate should be approved or modified.  The plan and the surcharge are effective from the date of the PUC order for a period of three years.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as stewards of competition.

For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage at www.puc.state.pa.us.

# # #

Blair County               Docket No. M-00930428

Lawrence County      Docket No. M-00960812

Wyoming County       Docket No. M-00920380

Contact:

• Cyndi Page
  Sr. Communications Specialist
  717-214-5434
  cypage@pa.gov