Senate Bill S5081

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S5081

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the county law, in relation to the
creation of a regional pilot program for enhanced wireless 911 service
based on voice over internet protocol technology

 PURPOSE : This bill would establish a regional pilot program for a
digitally-based wireless emergency communication system.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :  Section 1 amends paragraph (f) of
subdivision 5 of section 309 of the county law to make an
appropriation of $15 million for 2009-2010.

Section 2 adds a new subdivision 5-a of section 328 of the county law
that calls for the state 911 board to adopt standards governing the
regional pilot program. The board shall consider whether the projected
costs are reasonably necessary for the provision of enhanced wireless
911 service and whether the priority enhanced wireless plan conforms
to the FCC order.

Section 3 amends subdivision 9 of section 328 of the county law. It
requires the state 911 board's annual report to include information
relating to the regional pilot program. The information regarding the
program shall include but not be limited to, the number of grant
awards made for the program, dollar value of the grant awards, and the
status of implementation of the programs funded by the regional pilot
              

grants.  Furthermore, the annual report shall provide an analysis of
the effectiveness of the technology and systems used in the counties
participating in the regional pilot program as compared to those
technologies used in other counties.

Section 4 adds a new paragraph 7 to section 333 of the county law,
requiring the state 911 board to develop a regional pilot program for
expedited deployment in two counties based upon technology using a
call associated signaling system which utilizes voice over Internet
protocol.  The board shall select two counties as recipients of the
regional pilot program. The board shall ensure that sufficient funds,
and not less than five million dollars, is reserved for grants to be
awarded for the regional pilot program.

 JUSTIFICATION :  Studies by the Federal Communications Commission and
the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) have indicated that
the nation's current analog enhanced wireless 911 (e911) system will
be inadequate to meet the future needs of society. NENA, the "Voice of
911" in the U.S.  and Canada, has identified digital network
technology as the future path for e911.

The core components of e911, receiving and locating callers using
wireless technology, hinge on the ability of local government to
incorporate evolving technology into their existing communication
systems. Current systems rely greatly on analog technology, which has
serious limitations both on the ability to expand the e911 system and
the ability to adapt to future technology requirements. Voice over
Internet protocol (VOIP) and digital technology are becoming
commonplace with the use of Internet phones, handheld computers,
digital communication and data devices. These systems are quickly
being incorporated into both everyday and emergency communication
systems and it is important that e911 systems have the capability to
receive and locate callers using these devices.

Because of the proliferation of VOIP technology, the FCC has recently
issued an order requiring VOIP service providers to provide e911
functionality. In New York State, our capability to receive and locate
wireless 911 calls varies greatly from one county to the next, and the
ability to locate callers using VOIP and other digital technology is
relatively nonexistent.
A regional pilot program based on VOIP technology will strengthen our
state's ability to incorporate new and existing communication systems
into our e911 objectives. A pilot program will help determine the
direction of future e911 investments and will allow the state to build
upon its existing e911 capabilities.

This pilot program will complement statewide communication
initiatives, like the statewide wireless network, and be the first
step in linking the many disparate e911 communication systems
currently being deployed in the state.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :  2008 - 53793 Referred to Local Government
Committee

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :  As much of the cost of this program could be
reimbursed by the federal government, the total cost should be
minimal.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  This bill would take effect immediately.