Press Release
For immediate release
March 6, 2003
State Treasurer Berry and E911 Efforts Featured in Wireless Week Magazine
Indianapolis, IN - Wireless Week, an industry trade publication, turned its attention to Indiana and State Treasurer Tim Berry this week and liked what it saw. The magazine praised Berry's efforts overseeing the deployment of life-saving wireless E911 technology and suggested that Indiana could serve as model for other states.
In its March 1, 2003 edition, Wireless Week analyzes the efforts of wireless carriers to meet an FCC mandate to provide local emergency agencies with a wireless 911 caller's precise location and notes a troubling trend. As wireless carriers struggle to meet the mandate, several states have raided or diverted funds intended to reimburse wireless carriers and local governments for upgrade costs.
Fortunately for Hoosiers that's not the case in Indiana. The magazine cites Indiana as an example of "how to implement funding and deploy effectively, without diversion of surcharge funds."
Berry, who serves as Chairman of the Indiana Wireless Enhanced 911 Advisory Board and manages the wireless subscriber generated fund used to reimburse wireless carriers and local emergency agencies, says that's exactly the way it should be.
"Indiana has worked responsibly and has coordinated a strong effort with local government and the wireless carriers to ensure that Indiana's wireless subscribers receive the service they're paying for," said Berry. "As a result, Indiana is a national leader in the implementation of wireless E911 technology."
Wireless Week also praised Indiana's wireless E911 website, http://www.911coverage.org/ as, "one of the most informative state websites that shows, county by county, carrier by carrier" the availability of wireless E911 technology. In addition to the detailed coverage and deployment maps, the web site also features helpful background information for consumers in its "Frequently Asked Questions" section.
Berry says the website is a helpful resource in his consumer education campaign to share the facts on wireless E911 technology.
"Many consumers purchase wireless phones for themselves, or even their children or aging parents, with an expectation of safety and security," said Berry. "911coverag.org helps consumers make an informed decision."
To read the article, visit http://www.wirelessweek.com/ or http://www.911coverage.org/.
-30-
Correction: The Indiana Wireless Enhanced 911 Advisory Board has collected in excess of $60 million dollars in subscriber surcharges since its inception in 1998, not annually as reported in the article.
