Second MCSA 911 Program Workshop

1
Second MCSA 911 Program Workshop

• Recap current 911 programs and expenditures
• Discuss changes or additions to the current
  program
• Develop ideas for presentation to the 911 funding
  hearing to be conducted by DTE

2
Total Program (in 2000)

• Verizon says the net expenditures from fund in
  2000 were approx 12.8M
• E911 program cost approx 7.4M
• Included operating costs, relocate 10 PSAPs,
  re-arrange 38 PSAPs and 1 new PSAP install,
  plus
• Disability Access program cost approx 5.4M

NOTE These and all following cost numbers
rounded from Verizon May 2001 report to DTE
3
How Many Wireline Access Lines Are There?

• Population of Mass. 6,349,097 (2000 Census)
• FCC says 4,600,678 access lines reported on
  12/01 in Mass. by
• 2 ILECs (99.9 Verizon) 3,931,469
• 10 CLECs (RCN, ATT, Teleport, etc.) 669,209
• About 2.78M Verizon residential access lines in
  Mass. (says Verizon as ave. in 1997-2000)
• (compare to 2,988,667 lines reported by 6
  wireless carriers in MA. for Dec 01)

4
Revenue Estimates

• If a 12.8 M program was supported by a straight
  monthly charge on 4.6 million access lines, each
  access line would pay 0.03/month (thats 36
  cents per year per line)

• A more realistic approach (using CTs sliding
  scale formula) would generate about 20M per year
  in MA. This is an increase of 8M which is double
  the 911 program cost of 7.4M.

5
Components of E911 Program

• Continue focus on maintaining and upgrading
  reliable 911 telephone system and answering
  equipment
• Fund new initiative to certify all 911
  telecommunicators and mandate both pre-and
  in-service training requirements
• Fund grants to large city, regional and
  innovative PSAPs

6
What PSAP Equipment is Provided Now

• Backroom switch equipment
• Analog APUs (will need replacing)
• Call Checks
• Digital Loggers
• TTY equipment
• Call Detail Printers
• Headsets
• Special gear for Bostons large center
• Other

7
What PSAP Equipment is Needed??

• Replacement Equipment
• New Equipment
• Other

8
Survey of TCs/Dispatchers
9
Survey Continued

• Looks like 2000 non-sworn full and part-time
  dispatchers in 275 PSAPs
• Need to consider number of others in secondary
  PSAPs, fire dispatch, EMS dispatch, etc. 2500
  total non-sworn?
• Well over 2000-3000 additional sworn personnel
  who perform TC functions
• Looks like a number of 5000 is a reasonable
  estimate

10
Pre-Service Training

• How many new TCs each year? Say its 15 of total
  of 2000 or 300. Only 40-50 go to the Dispatch
  Academy.
• Should we require training pre-service training?
• Should we make prior to service or require to
  achieve 1-year after hire?
• How much training? 5 weeks is current Academy
  length

11
Can Fund Support Pre-Service Training?

• Can pay for staff and per-diem instructors
• But, how to pay for TCs/dispatchers who are
  sent?
• Could reimburse mileage?
• Could reimburse PSAP for sending?
• Other ideas

12
What Should be In-Service Training?

• Standards for Content
• Number of Hours per Year (40-120 hrs in many
  states are required)
• Certification Process (many states require basic
  certification)

• NOTES

13
How to Fund In-ServiceTraining?
Make grants to PSAPs for approved
training proportional to the number
of dispatchers.
Reimburse approved dispatchers for 40 hours of
training each year at a SETB-approved rate (e.g.,
15/hr.)
MORE
Reimburse approved PSAP training programs
under guidelines set out by the SETB
14
How to Develop PSAP Managers?

• Many dispatch managers need special training
• Need to build skills and interest

15
How to Support the Large PSAPs

• CT gives subsidies to their large citys (New
  Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, etc.)
• What is fair in Mass.
• The 5 citys over 100K pop have almost 20 of the
  population (Bos, Wor, Spring, Low, Camb.)
• There are 12 citys over 75K pop (adds Brockton,
  NB, FR, Lynn, Quincy, Newton and Somerville)
• There are 23 cities and towns over 50K pop.

16
How to Encourage Regionalization

• It can make economic and mutual-aid sense to
  operate regional PSAPs. Here are ours with the
  number of towns they serve

17
Funding 911 Agencies

• Provide funds to support large city PSAP
  operations and technology (e.g., all citys over
  75K pop.)
• Provide funds to plan and operate regional
  centers (e.g., 3 or more towns)
• Provide funds to innovative centers (e.g.,
  through a competitive grant program)

18
Guidelines for Funding

• Must be for 911-related expenses according to
  state-approved guidelines
• Exclusion of capital costs (e.g., cant afford to
  fund buildings, etc.)
• Audit program is required
• Uses explicit formulas for calculations so as to
  minimize conflict and uncertainty
• Could tie-in to training or other requirements

19
Other Ideas and Needs
20
Other States (2000 population)