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Committee approves study of Next Generation 911 funding, resolution passes by voice vote
Summary
The House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee passed House Resolution 429 (LC5500565) to create a five-member study committee to examine funding of Next Generation 911 systems; GEMA and local officials supported the study.
The Georgia House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee voted to pass House Resolution 429 (LC5500565), establishing a five-member study committee to examine funding for Next Generation 911 systems.
Representative Martin, who introduced the resolution, told the committee the traditional per-line 9-1-1 fee model "is becoming dated" as voice-over-IP and other new technologies make it harder to attach fees to phone lines. "We need to gather some groups, get some folks that have some information on that, perhaps how it's been done in other states and think about how to fund our 9-1-1 system, not just today, but in the future," he said. He used a Wayne Gretzky analogy to explain the goal: "I'm gonna skate to where it's gonna be," he said, urging proactive study.
Alicia Ruckerite, deputy executive director for the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority with GEMA Homeland Security, testified in support of the study. "We are in full support of the study committee," she told members, adding that 911 fees in some jurisdictions are no longer covering the full cost of service and that local emergency communications leaders had asked for a convening to consider equitable fee distribution.
Representative Mary Frances Williams asked whether the item was only a hearing; committee members replied that they could act. A motion to pass the resolution was made and the committee approved it by voice vote; members indicated "aye" and no recorded objections were raised on the hearing record.
Representative Martin credited the City of Roswell and Mayor Kurt Wilson for raising concerns about 911 funding, and he said the study committee would examine funding methods used in other states and options for Georgia.
The resolution creates a study committee (described in the bill language as five members) to evaluate funding mechanisms for Next Generation 911 and report back to the legislature. The committee did not specify a timeline or required deliverables in the hearing record beyond forming the study group.
