12/16/04-A Senate bill that sought to require cell phone customers in the state to pay an additional 65 cents a month on their billing statement to help pay for enhanced 911 services has died.
SB211 remained in the Senate Public Utilities Committee at the close of session Dec. 9, effectively killing it for the year.
A similar House version – HB361 – however, is headed to Gov. Bob Taft for approval.
HB361 would add 32 cents a month to mobile telephone bills through Dec. 31, 2008.
In return, drivers throughout the state would get enhanced 9-1-1 service capable of geographically locating a cell phone caller with the aid of global positioning satellite services.
Enhanced 9-1-1 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person without the caller having to say a word.
Under the bill, half of the tax revenue would go to wireless service providers, which are required by federal law to have GPS on all cell phones by 2005. The remaining funds would be distributed among counties, based on their number of wireless service subscribers, to provide for equipping and staffing answering centers.

5/6/04-A bill before the Senate Public Utilities Committee would require cell phone customers in the state to pay an additional 65 cents a month on their billing statement to help pay for enhanced 911 services.
In return, drivers throughout the state would get enhanced 911 service capable of geographically locating a cell phone caller with the aid of global positioning satellite services.
Enhanced 911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person without the caller having to say a word.
Under SB211, sponsored by Sen. Robert Schuler, R-Cincinnati, half of the tax revenue would go to wireless service providers, which are required by federal law to have GPS on all cell phones by 2005. The remaining funds would be distributed among counties, based on their number of wireless service subscribers, to provide for equipping and staffing answering centers.
For bill status, call (614) 466-8842. In Ohio, call 1-800-282-0253.
A similar House bill – HB361 – is before the House Public Utilities Committee.