(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE ACT. G.S. §§ 62A-40 et seq.
EXCHANGE ACCESS FACILITY. The access from a particular telephone subscriber's premises to the telephone system of a service supplier. EXCHANGE ACCESS FACILITIES includes service supplier-provided access lines, PBX trunks, and centrex network access registers, all as defined by the tariffs of the telephone company as approved by the State Utilities Commission. EXCHANGE ACCESS FACILITIES do not include service supplier-owned and -operated telephone pay station lines, or Wide Area Telecommunication Service (WATS), Foreign Exchange (FX), or incoming-only lines.
911 CHARGE. A contribution to the county for the 911 service start-up equipment costs, subscriber notification costs, addressing costs, billing costs, and non-recurring and recurring installation, maintenance, service, and network charges of a service supplier providing 911 service.
911 SYSTEM or 911 SERVICE. An emergency telephone system that provides the user of the public telephone system the ability to reach a public safety answering point by dialing the digits 911. The term 911 SYSTEM or 911 SERVICE also includes ENHANCED 911 SERVICE, which means an emergency telephone system that provides the user of the public telephone system with 911 services and, in addition, directs 911 calls to appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing based on the geographic location from which the call originated, and provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification features.
SERVICE SUPPLIER. A person or entity who provides exchange telephone service to a telephone subscriber.
TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBER or SUBSCRIBER. A person or entity to whom exchange telephone service, either residential or commercial, is provided and in return for which the person or entity is billed on a monthly basis. When the same person, business, or organization has several telephone access lines, each exchange access facility shall constitute a separate subscription.
(B) Effective 3-1-1991, there is imposed a monthly 911 service charge, in the amount specified in division (C) below, upon each exchange access facility subscribed to by telephone subscribers whose exchange access lines are in the area served by the 911 service in the county.
(C) (1) The monthly 911 charge is $1 for each exchange access facility subscribed to by a telephone subscriber whose exchange access line or lines are located in the county which are in the area served by 911 service. The charge shall be imposed for a period not to exceed 24 months, and funds derived therefrom shall be used for non-recurring costs associated with the implementation of Enhanced 911, including the lease or purchase of emergency telephone equipment, computer hardware and software, addressing, data base development and installation, network charges, subscriber notification, billing, and related non-recurring costs.
(2) At the end of the 24-month period, the monthly charge shall be reduced to $.50 for each exchange access facility subscribed to by a telephone subscriber whose exchange access line or lines are located in the county which are in the area served by 911 service. Funds derived therefrom shall be used solely for recurring costs associated with the operation of the 911 system, including, but not limited to, ongoing network charges, equipment, and database service and maintenance costs, and billing costs.
(3) Adjustments in the amount of the monthly charge for recurring costs may be made at any time by the Board of Commissioners to react to changes in the operating costs for 911 service.
(D) There is established the Emergency Telephone System Fund. All revenues generated pursuant to this section shall be deposited to this Fund and used for the purposes outlined herein. Monies in the Emergency Telephone System Fund may be invested in the same manner as other local government revenues, and income earned from the investments shall be deposited in the Fund.
(E) Service suppliers will be responsible for collecting and remitting to the county the 911 charges as provided by the Public Safety Telephone Act. Services suppliers collecting the 911 charges are entitled to a 1% administrative fee as compensation for collecting the charges.
(F) Administration and collections activities to enforce and give effect to the provisions of this section shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Public Safety Telephone Act, G.S. §§ 62A-5 et seq.
(Ord. passed 10-8-1990)