[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The debate over on VOIP News continues
between Mr. Wilber and Jack Decker. PAT]
--- Jack Decker [Moderator] wrote:
As for E-911 fees, I have been saying for many months now that the
only fair way to finance E-911 centers is through the same mechanism
used to finance every other emergency service in the community (such
as fire and police), be that property taxes, local sales taxes, or
whatever.
--- end of quote ---
I would like to know how that could be administered. In New Hampshire,
local communities determine how their emergency services are funded
while the stae determines how E-911 is financed. In my state, there is
just a single PSAP but even that would be an adminstratrive and
political challenge of huge proportions. I can only imagine it would
be completely unmanageable in a large state such as New York or
California.
--- Jack Decker [Moderator] wrote:
In an ideal world, the phone companies that sold the 911 centers these
technologically obsolete systems would be forced to pay. However, I
suspect that if there were more sources for these systems -- that is,
if 911 center operators didn't run to their partners in crime at the
phone companies to purchase these systems at top dollar -- I suspect
they could get far more advanced systems for far less money.
--- end of quote ---
My primary experience has been in the state of New Hampshire. In that
state, when the legislature mandated that all municipalities implement
E-911 within a certain period of time, the contract for providing
E-911 was put out for bid as it should be. All legitimate vendors were
welcome to submit bids on the contract.
--- Jack Decker [Moderator] wrote:
... I think the 911 center administrators so love it that they can
put one over on the taxpayers and voters (by not seeking their
permission before installing a new system) that they don't really
question what sort of deal the phone companies are giving them, nor
whether the equipment they are being sold is expandable to handle
communications from newer forms of technology.
--- end of quote ---
Apparently Mr. Decker is privy to some inside information here. Any
dispatch center members I have spoken with - and virtually all I am
aware of who have commented in various listservs on the matter -- are
seriously concerned about how to make E-911 work with VoIP. In my
experience, they are true professionals, concerned with the welfare of
the public they are charged with protecting. Maligning them as you
did in your reply to my posting suggests that you have proof to the
contrary. Perhaps you would share that with the readers of this
listserv.
--- Jack Decker [Moderator] wrote:
You conveniently ignore the fact that for many years cell phones were
unable to complete calls to 911. Perhaps you feel that all new forms
of communication should be hamstrung until they can fit into the
wireline telephone companies' ways of doing things, but I for one do
not.
--- end of quote ---
Mr. Decker conveniently ignores the fact that cellular carriers are
currently under federal mandate to provide Automatic Location
Information capability within certain parameters of accuracy by
certain dates. It is common knowledge that the carriers have been
unable to meet these deadlines in many cases but they are still
subject to those mandates and are liable for fines if they don't meet
those deadlines.
As for my feelings about new forms of communication, the Moderator
presumes to put words in my mouth and ascribe motives to my postings
by stooping to an ad hominem attack on me that does nothing to advance
this discussion in a reasoned and mature manner. If he had bothered to
ask he would have learned that my job and my hobbies all revolve
around encouraging, advancing, supporting and implementing new forms
of communication.
Charlie Wilber
Hanover, New Hampshire
Charles B. Wilber (Charles.B.Wilber@Dartmouth.EDU)