Antrim County going encrypted

[Golay]

Last I heard enforcement will not begin until late summer next year. Even then it will just be a warning type of enforcement since it will be impossible for many areas to find funding by then. The feds want to make costly mandates but don't want to provide any kind of path for funding

Whatever happened to a 911 surcharge to buy the equipment?
Back many years ago when my neck of the woods went from a bunch of different VHF channels to an 800 trunking system, they started charging us a fee on our phone bills to pay for it. And I know they didn't ask us if we minded.
This goes back to when I didn't even have a cell yet.

 

[drdispatch]

Whatever happened to a 911 surcharge to buy the equipment?
Back many years ago when my neck of the woods went from a bunch of different VHF channels to an 800 trunking system, they started charging us a fee on our phone bills to pay for it. And I know they didn't ask us if we minded.
This goes back to when I didn't even have a cell yet.

The surcharge is intended primarily to cover day-to-day operations. To fund a major project like a radio system or PSAP upgrade, it usually requires a millage or bond.
And the 911 surcharge can be assessed up to a certain level without voter approval; it only requires ETSB approval.