Dipping into 911 funds [Telecom]

Jul 23, 8:08 PM EDT

AP IMPACT: Cash-strapped states raid 911 funds

By PETER SVENSSON
AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- More than $200 million collected from cell phone users for upgrades to the 911 system has been diverted in the last two years to plug state budget holes, keep campaign promises and, in at least one case, buy police uniforms, an Associated Press analysis has found.

Dispatchers say the diversion of money comes at the expense of improvements that would give crime and accident victims more opportunities to reach responders. Someone who has been kidnapped, for instance, may not be able to talk but might be able to quietly send a text message or a photo.

Cell phone subscribers in nearly every state pay anywhere from 20 cents to $1.50 a month for what is described in their bills as 911 improvements. In some states, the AP analysis found, less than half that money is actually going to help emergency dispatchers keep pace with the features of smart phones.

As states hammered by the recession look around for new ways to balance their budgets, the 911 money is tempting:


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_911_FUND_RAIDING?SITE=INLAF&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT




--
The only good spammer is a dead one!! Have you hunted one down today? (c) 2009 I Kill Spammers, inc, A Rot in Hell. Co.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Cash-strapped states raid 911 funds
    ... Cell phone subscribers in nearly every state pay anywhere from 20 ... that money is actually going to help emergency dispatchers keep pace ... subscriber each month goes to emergency calling services. ... telecommunications fund, halving its size, and cut its monthly 911 ...
    (alt.politics)
  • Re: in a time of need
    ... it seems that you are suffering from a severe ... while the rich laugh and throw their money at ... i don't own a car or a cell phone. ...
    (rec.music.phish)
  • Re: A study calls phone use risky as driving drunk.
    ... Also, it would be a mistake to make new laws on the basis of safety alone, without regard to the benefits of cell phone usage. ... If convenience and effectiveness didn't matter, if only safety was important, we wouldn't even have private ownership of vehicles in the first place. ... I had one 10 years ago, but I'm disappointed they haven't come down in price more, and it's not worth the money to me personally. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
  • Re: OT but still techy: Stupid Cell Phone Features
    ... I WANT MY "SAVE YOU MONEY" MINUTE TRACKING FEATURE. ... I think cell phone providers are acting like gangsters with this set ... turns on the useless web browser (with additional charges) on my old ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: "Do you have a penny?"
    ... and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set ... Then I just lay the money on the ... I have customers nearly every day who talk on the cell phone while ...
    (rec.sport.football.college)
Loading