Press Release

    The PUC approved the 911 System Renewal Plan’s received from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for Pike, Potter, Somerset, Bradford, Tioga, Greene, Fayette, Franklin, Mercer and Schuylkill counties.

    The Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act of 1990 provided for a statewide 911 emergency communication system to be administered by PEMA. The law allows counties to recover the cost for 911 systems by assessing a fee on every telephone line. The local phone companies collect the fees for the county. The maximum fee that can be collected is $1.50 per telephone line.

    Pike County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line per month. Pike County’s service area has a population of approximately 43,000. The county is served by Bell Atlantic, GTE and Lackawaxen Telephone Company.

    Potter County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line per month. Potter County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 16,717. The county is served by Bell Atlantic, Frontier (Oswayo River) Telephone Company, GTE and Adelphia Communications.

    Somerset County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line. Somerset County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 80,517. The county is served by GTE and United Telephone Company.

    Bradford County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line. Bradford County 911 service area has a population of approximately 60,979. The county is served by Frontier Telephone Company, North Penn Telephone Company, GTE and Commonwealth Telephone Company.

    Tioga County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line per month. Tioga County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 41,843. The county is served by Bell Atlantic, Commonwealth Telephone Company, GTE and North Penn Telephone Company.

    Greene County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line per month. Greene County ‘s 911 service area has a population of approximately 39,500. The county is served by ALLTEL, Bell Atlantic, Marianna & Scenery Hill Telephone Company and West Side Telephone Company.

    Fayette County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per access line per month. Fayette County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 145,351. The county is served by Bell Atlantic, Laurel Highland Telephone Company and GTE.

    Franklin County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.24 per access line per month. Franklin County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 122,600. The county is served by United Telephone Company. Mercer County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per access line per month. Mercer County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 121,003. The county is served by Bell Atlantic, GTE, United Telephone Company, ALLTEL and Pymatuning Independent Telephone Company.

    Schuylkill County is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.25 per access line per month. Schuylkill County‘s 911 service area has a population of approximately 152,588. The county is served by ALLTEL, Bell Atlantic Commonwealth Telephone Company, Frontier Communications of Lakewood, and GTE.

    The PUC is responsible for reviewing the contribution rate requested by the county and forwarding a decision to PEMA. The PUC has 90 days to submit its recommendations to PEMA as to whether the county’s proposed contribution rate should be approved or modified.

    For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage: http://puc.paonline.com.

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Pike County Docket No. M-00950649
Potter County Docket No. M-00930455
Somerset County Docket No. M-00920313
Bradford County Docket No. M-00950675
Tioga County Docket No. M-00920353
Greene County Docket No. M-00930489
Fayette County Docket No. M-00930436
Franklin County Docket No. M-00920311
Mercer County Docket No. M-00930420
Schuylkill County Docket No. M-00930386