by Brent Frazier
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- Local 911 offices are facing the challenges that come from new residents who have not updated their cell phone numbers.
Local 911 officers get paid through cell phone bills. Betty Miller, the director of Clarksville/Montgomery County's E-911 center said that on each American's cell phone bill is a line item that earmarks $1 toward 911/emergency services. Of that dollar, 75 cents, she said, goes to the State 911 board; 25 cents is paid to the emergency services district where that area code originated.
Army soldier John Moreland has lived at Fort Campbell the last four years but he's maintaining his 740 area code from his native Columbus, Ohio.
This means that although a local emergency from Moreland's phone would filter through the Clarksville 911 center, 25 cents of that dollar Moreland pays still gets kicked back to his native Columbus, OH.
Miller is realistic and does not expect every cell phone user to run out and switch to a local area code.
"I don't blame them for doing it that way," Betty Miller said. "I probably would, too. But yes, it would be nice for us, funding-wise, because we do have to pay people to be here 24/7, to do this job; and we have to pay for lights and water and it goes on and on."
email: bfrazier@newschannel5.com
