SELINSGROVE — We’re about to hear a lot more about the under funded 9-1-1 centers in Pennsylvania. County Commissioners from area counties will gathering at 9:00a.m. Monday to talk about the issue.
The problem is an outdated Pennsylvania law that uses landline telephones as the basis for charging people for 9-1-1 services. Landline use is down, and cell phone use has increased, and counties make up the difference with general fund tax revenue.
The Monday news conference in Selinsgrove mirrors statewide efforts, and lawmakers renewed consideration of bills to change the law. Commissioners from Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Snyder and Union counties have been invited as well as first responders and fire chiefs.
Snyder County commissioner chairman Joe Kantz says, “The original bill that funded county 911 centers was passed in 1990 and later included corresponding bills to incorporate cell phones and voice over internet…We need a bill that anticipates the new technologies of the future so we don’t have to play catch up.”