1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to ask for your support of Senate Bill 1078, currently under consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This important legislation reauthorizes funding for Pennsylvania’s 911 system—our state’s critical lifeline for emergency response. While the bill proposes to maintain the uniform 911 surcharge at $1.95, I, along with the Pennsylvania Chapters of APCO and NENA, strongly support an amendment to increase the surcharge to $2.20 per device or subscription. This increase is essential to ensure the long-term stability, modernization, and reliability of our 911 systems across the Commonwealth. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) Report on Pennsylvania’s 911 System clearly outlines the financial realities facing county 911 centers. A $2.20 surcharge is necessary to: Sustain county 911 operations amid rising personnel and equipment costs; Advance the transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911), including support for text, image, and video emergency communications; Provide continued training, retention, and professional development for our public safety telecommunicators—the first link in every emergency; and Offer predictable, stable funding to prevent service degradation and technology delays. Please support this important reauthorization with amendment for surcharge adjustment to ensure that Pennsylvania’s 911 system remains strong, modern, and ready to meet the needs of every resident and visitor.