Press Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved the contribution rates of three counties for local 911 systems.

The PUC approved the 911 System Renewal Plans received from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for Erie, McKean and Montgomery counties.

The Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act of 1990 provides 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 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 eight class counties.

Erie County, a third-class county, is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of 98 cents per access line per month. The county has a population of approximately 284,952. Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic and GTE) and ALLTELL serve the county.

McKean County, a sixth-class county, is not requesting any change in the current contribution rate of $1.50 per access line per month. The county has a population of approximately 47,131. Verizon, Armstrong, Frontier, Fairpoint Communications and Cellular Rentals serve the county.

Montgomery, a second-class county, requested a change in the current contribution rate of 68 cents to $1 per access line per month. The county has a population of approximately 708,782. Telephone service is provided by Verizon, Conestoga Telephone, CTSI, Teligent, Nextlink, Focal and PAE TEC.

The PUC is responsible for reviewing the contribution rate requested by the counties and forwarding a decision to PEMA. The PUC has 90 days to submit its recommendations to PEMA as to whether the counties proposed contribution rates 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.

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

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