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Committee member urges state to reauthorize 9‑1‑1 surcharge to fund radio upgrades
Summary
At a Carbon County commissioners meeting, a committee member urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reauthorize an increased 9‑1‑1 surcharge to fund NG9‑1‑1 upgrades and digital radio equipment, citing millions in equipment costs and interoperability problems; the board adopted a resolution urging reauthorization.
A committee member at the Carbon County Board of Commissioners meeting urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reauthorize an increased 9‑1‑1 surcharge to help pay for a switch from analog to digital radio and dispatch systems that the speaker said would improve interoperability and public safety.
The speaker told the board the county is competing with other jurisdictions for grants and that equipment and training costs are high: "The 1 grant that was just, have applied for or, 1 quote we just got for radios for the emergency services totaled $6,000,000 alone," the committee member said, adding later a breakdown citing about 645–657 radios, control stations and chargers and a roughly $6.8 million total for fire-service radios.
Why it matters: The board voted to adopt a resolution urging the state to reauthorize an increase in the 9‑1‑1 surcharge to support next‑generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) upgrades and related infrastructure. Supporters said the fee helps cover towers, switching equipment and dispatcher staffing and training, and would reduce competition among counties for limited grant funds.
The speaker framed the request as a public‑safety necessity, saying better interoperability could prevent responders from being unable to communicate at multi‑county incidents. "With this new digital system, there's, we could talk to other counties then. They'll be able to talk to us," the committee member said.
Other commissioners echoed support for the need to pair policy with funding. One commissioner noted that Act 34 of 2023 had raised the surcharge from $1.65 to $1.95 and discussed its sunset and readoption timing.
Outcome: The board adopted the resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reauthorize a 9‑1‑1 surcharge increase to support NG9‑1‑1 upgrades.
What’s next: The committee member said the county will send sample proclamations and cover letters to state officials, including the governor and chairs of relevant appropriations and emergency management committees, to press the case for funding.
