Press Release

PUC Approves 911 Renewal Plans for Chester, Dauphin and Franklin Counties

Published on 1/11/2007

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reauthorized the telephone charge residents in Chester, Dauphin and Franklin counties pay for their local 911 system.

Chester County, a third-class county, did not request a change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per telephone line, which will provide an annual contribution in revenue of about $4,572,510 toward recovering the annual costs associated with the system. The county’s 911 service area has a population of about 450,000. Telephone companies provide service for about 304,834 telephone access lines in the county. Verizon Pennsylvania Inc., Commonwealth Telephone Co., Conestoga Telephone and Telegraph Co. and competitive local exchange carriers serve the county.

Dauphin County, a third-class county, did not request a change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per telephone line, which will provide an annual contribution in revenue of about $3,016,980 toward recovering the annual costs associated with the system. The county’s 911 service area has a population of about 251,798. Telephone companies provide service for about 201,132 telephone access lines in the county. Verizon Pennsylvania Inc., Verizon North Inc, Commonwealth Telephone Co., Embarq Inc., Mahanoy & Mahantango Telephone Co. and competitive local exchange carriers serve the county.

Franklin County, a fifth-class county, did not request a change in the current contribution rate of $1.24 per telephone line, which will provide an annual contribution in revenue of about $1,095,332 toward recovering the annual costs associated with the system.. The county’s 911 service area has a population of about 129,313. Telephone companies provide service for about 73,611 telephone access lines in the county. Embarq Inc. and competitive local exchange carriers 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 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 contributions 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 it 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 balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket Nos.
Chester County: M-00940567
Dauphin County: M-00920340
Franklin County: M-00910311

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722