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KC
area's 9-1-1 system will get major upgrade
by
Wendy Crotts
Landmark reporter
At
its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 28, the Mid America Regional
Counsel (MARC) Board of Directors authorized the execution
of an agreement with Commenco, Inc. software and hardware
to upgrade dispatching operations in 9-1-1 public safety
answer points around the eight county Kansas City region,
which includes Platte County.
The value of equipment and five year maintenance plan
is $7.9 million.
In addition, the new equipment will allow agencies to
process 9-1-1 calls from landline phones with greater
efficiency. It also provides the region with capability
of identifying the number and location of wireless calls,
once the phone companies upgrade their systems.
With 53% of all 9-1-1 calls coming from wireless devices,
it has been a regional priority to upgrade the system
to provide the same level of response capability that
currently exists with landline phones to callers from
wireless devices.
Each county's share of the 9-1-1 system costs, both operating
costs and equipment, is based on the county's share of
the regional population. Each of the eight counties contributes
to the regional 9-1-1 system expenses.
Currently only landline phone customers contribute to
the costs of 9-1-1 services. MARC and local public safety
agencies have been working with both state legislatures
for several years to extend the current 9-1-1 surcharge
to wireless services.
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