House Passes Bill To Help Increase Funding For 911 Call Centers Across OK

The Oklahoma House has passed a bill to help increase funding for 911 call centers across the state.

It may be hard to imagine, but some Oklahomans are being put on hold when they call 911 during an emergency. The main problem is because dispatch centers have seen their revenues decline, and that means they can't afford to hire more employees.

Home phones pay the majority of 911 fees in Oklahoma, but with more people going to cell phones only, money coming in to dispatch centers has fallen.

Now, legislation at the Capitol could change that. House Bill 3126 would increase cell phone fees by 25 cents per line to about 75 cents.

Supporters say it would help boost revenues for dispatch centers, and it's a small price to pay to ensure our calls are answered faster.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.