Enhanced Wireless Funding through HB 361 Shawn S. Smith Interim Ohio Coordinator

What does HB 361 do? Provides a state-level funding mechanism to the counties for the provision of enhanced wireless service Creates the position of a Coordinator Creates both a Council and Wireless Advisory Board

32 Cent Wireless Charge The charge is collected by wireless providers and resellers, remitted to the state, and disbursed on a monthly basis to counties Begins appearing on August 1, 2005 Collections will be remitted to the coordinator beginning October 2005 Begins flowing to counties that have adopted a final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced in November 2005 Set to expire December 31, 2008

Wireless Government Assistance Fund In the custody of the State Treasurer Not part of the state treasury Monthly remittances of wireless charge from the wireless providers are deposited directly into this custodial account Prior to the first county disbursement, and by January 25 of each year, the coordinator will certify the estimated allocation amount for the ensuing calendar year to the County Auditors

How do counties get the disbursements? Prior to any disbursement being made, a county must amend its final comprehensive plan to include the establishment of wireless enhanced According to the legislation, this process includes: The establishment of a planning committee A advisory committee Holding public meetings Acts by resolution to approve or deny the amended plan by the respective board of county commissioners, municipal legislative authorities, and township authorities Each county that has not adopted a final wireless enhanced plan will have its allocations set aside for the first three years of the legislation

How do counties get the disbursements?- Cont. On September 21, 2005, the PUCO approved an order which outlines the procedural process for a county to receive approval for the release of funds from the Wireless Government Assistance Fund The order established TP-EMG as the sole docket of record for the filing of the county’s amended plan Once completed, the county should send: Four copies of the amended plan Four copies of the resolutions (with signatures) of the approving entities A cover letter The cover letter should state:  that your county’s plan has been amended to include the provision of wireless enhanced service  that the amended plan has been approved, through resolution, by the board of county commissioners, list each municipal legislative authority that approved it, and list each township that approved it  that you are seeking approval for the disbursement of funds from the Wireless Government Assistance Fund, as identified in House Bill 361  either an indication of your county’s current level of wireless enhanced service being provided on a countywide basis or an estimated date and level of planned countywide implementation of wireless enhanced service  ask that it be docketed into case number TP-EMG The packet should be mailed to Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Docketing Division 180 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio

How do counties get the disbursements?- Cont. Upon recognition of the plan and approval for the disbursement of funds, the coordinator will contact the county treasurer’s office The coordinator will need to obtain the fund name, account number, and routing number to transfer funds electronically An ACH credit will occur by the last day of the month following Commission approval

How are the disbursements calculated? A ratio between the number of wireless telephone numbers in a county over the number of wireless telephone numbers in the state Numbers are determined by billing address Numbers are adjusted between counties for subscribers that live within a municipality that spans county lines

How can the disbursements be used? Upon disbursement of funds to the county treasurer, the county is to immediately disburse the dollars in accordance with the allocation formula established in the final plan To cover any costs of designing, upgrading, purchasing, leasing, programming, installing, testing, or maintaining the necessary data, hardware, software, and trunking required to provide wireless enhanced Training of staff to provide wireless enhanced service After August 1, 2006, counties that have received certification from the coordinator as to their expenditures may use the allocations to cover PSAP personnel costs

Ohio Coordinator Appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the PUCO Chairman Nominees submitted to the Chairman by the Council Administers Sections through of the Ohio Revised Code Administers the Wireless Government Assistance Fund Appoints the chairperson of the Wireless Advisory Board “Other duties” recommended by the Council and approved by the Chairman

9-1-1 Council Made up of 11 members Ohio Coordinator Designee of the Department of Public Safety One representative of public safety communication officials One representative of administrators of service One representative of countywide systems Three representatives of wireline service providers Three representatives of wireless service providers

9-1-1 Council’s Duties Establishing technical and operational standards for systems in Ohio Conducting research, making recommendations, and creating reports regarding any wireline and wireless issues, any improvements in the provision of service, or any legislation or policies regarding in Ohio Submitting names to the PUCO Chairman for the appointment of the final Coordinator Issuing a performance evaluation of the Coordinator

Wireless Advisory Board Made up of six members Department of Public Safety official from the Council One of the wireless service provider representatives from the Council One non-council representative from wireless service providers One non-council representative of public safety communications officials Two non-council representatives of municipal and county governments

Wireless Advisory Board’s Duties The board will make a recommendation to the coordinator regarding the charge included in the coordinator’s report to the general assembly Make recommendations regarding any rules to be adopted by the PUCO regarding through of the ORC

Questions? Shawn S. Smith Interim Ohio 911 Coordinator Offices of the Chairman and Chief of Staff The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Tel (614) Fax (614)