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RESOLUTION R-1617-62: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AUTHORIZING THE ASSIGNMENT OF NINE-ONE-ONE (9-1-1) FEES TO THE NINE-ONE-ONE ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS (9-1-1 ACOG) FOR WIRELESS TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS, VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP), INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP), AND PREPAID WIRELESS RETAIL TRANSACTIONS.
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BACKGROUND: The 9-1-1- Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), in which the City of Norman is a participant, was officially created after voters approved a proposal for creation of a 9-1-1 system in elections held in March, April, and October of 1987. The proposal also provided for the addition of a service fee to each telephone subscriber’s basic telephone charge in order to finance installation and maintenance of the 9-1-1 system.
The service fee was initially set at 5% of the basic service for each customer. Collection of that fee began in January of 1989. In accordance with state law, this fee was reduced to 3% in January of 1990. In order to continue collection of the locally authorized service fee on telephone bills to pay for the 9-1-1 service, each local government must approve a resolution annually, setting the actual fee. ACOG recommends that the required resolution be received before August 1, 2016.
9-1-1 ACOG assumes all responsibility for expenses involved with the operation of the 9-1-1 system, including purchase, installation, and upkeep of all required equipment and maintenance of the system by AT&T. Financing of the 9-1-1 system by ACOG and financial aid provided to participating local governments is made possible entirely through proceeds received from the 9-1-1 service charge added to the phone bills of subscribers in the covered areas.
Funds received by the City of Norman through the 9-1-1 service fee have been instrumental in the acquisition of communications equipment essential to the efficient operation of the Emergency Communications Center as a 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point and in reducing subsidies from the General Fund to offset emergency communications costs.
DISCUSSION: With the passage and enactment of the new 9-1-1 legislation that adds a seventy-five cent ($0.75) monthly fee on each wireless telephone connection effective January 1, 2017, on each service enabled by Voice over Internet Protocol (VOiP) or Internet Protocol (IP), and on each prepaid wireless retail transaction occurring in this state, the City of Norman is required to provide the newly formed Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority and the Oklahoma Tax Commission documentation confirming the proper recipient for the 9-1-1 fees that are collected. Fees that are collected by the Oklahoma Tax Commission pursuant to this legislation will be distributed to public agencies based on the population of each agency’s 9-1-1 response area. Resolution No. R-1617-62 assigns fees attributable to Norman to 9-1-1 ACOG to support the City’s contractual administrative, equipment and service obligations to the regional 9-1-1 system.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of Resolution No. R-1617-62.