911 Fee Collection JPA Gains Wide Acceptance

Posted 11/17/23 (Fri)

Click here to view a map of the current status of JPA adoption: ndaco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c87c6d15b70843ac8067410812233d0a

by Jason Horning, NG911 Program Coordinator

After careful consideration and meetings with NDACo’s board, the NDCCA, the County Auditors Association and the County Treasurers Association, NDACo decided to offer a service for the collection and distribution of 9-1-1 fees. The service’s overall goal is to create efficiencies for county personnel and the telecom industry as it pertains to the calculation, remittance, and collection of 9-1-1 fees. More specifically, the service would provide transparency, support state and federal reporting requirements and allow NDACo to work on behalf of counties to make sure telecom remittances are correct.

The joint powers agreement (JPA) for “Collection and Distribution of 9-1-1 Fees” was distributed to counties for their consideration on September 1^st of this year; and thus far, 37 of 53 county commissions have approved the JPA. NDACo is currently assessing support for the program and answering questions for counties who remain unsigned, remaining hopeful that it can achieve 100% participation. Jason Horning, NG9-1-1 Program Manager at NDACo states, “That level of participation is ideal because it optimizes the efficiencies for all parties concerned.”  The program is targeting a January 1, 2024, start date; but the date is entirely dependent on the number of counties who remain unsigned by the mid-November timeframe.

Essentially what the service offers is a centralized collection point for 9-1-1 fee remittances on wireline, wireless and VoIP phone service. NDACo would serve as that collection point, ensuring remittances are calculated correctly for each county, data is gathered from telecom companies to support county needs, and funds such as the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) program and the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN) program are appropriately financed.  Funds remaining after deposits to the NG9-1-1 and SIRN programs would be transferred into each county’s 9-1-1 account, along with supporting data and documentation to fulfil local needs and commitments.

Until NDACo is ready to initiate the program though, counties should continue to receive 9-1-1 fee revenue directly. More correspondence will be coming out in the coming weeks on the progress and whether the January 1, 2024, target date is achievable. Ultimately, formal requests to the telecom industry to re-direct 9-1-1 fee revenue from the county would be provided by NDACo only after NDACo determines there are enough counties to move forward with the program and then only for those counties who have signed the JPA.

Lastly, governance for this service and JPA is being developed by the ND 9-1-1 Association and representatives from the County Auditors Association and County Treasurers Associations. Provided that the JPA and service takes flight, it will be this governing board that will serve in an oversight capacity and give guidance to NDACo for administration of the program.