|
Alabama
Chapter of NENA
Quarterly Meeting April 26, 2001
Lanett, Alabama
Welcome
President Ernie Blair called the meeting to order, and introduced Donnie Smith,
Director of the Chambers County 911, who proceeded to welcome everyone, and
invite interested parties to tour their PSAP before leaving town. Mr. Smith
introduced the Mayor of Lanett, Scott Hamil, who has served on their 911 Board
eight years; Mr. Bobby Williams, City Manager; Chief Byron Pigg of East Alabama
Fire Department and Chairman of the Lanett 911 Board; Renae Vernon,
Administrative Assistant; and Chief Ricky Billingsly, Lanett Police Chief, who
sits on the Communications Committee.
Chief Billingsly led the
group in the Pledge of Allegiance after which he introduced Pastor Russell Beam
of the First Baptist Church who gave the invocation.
President Blair
recognized Sharon Carroll, recently named president of the Alabama APCO Chapter,
and Jo Tranter, named second vice president.
Presentation of Minutes
and Financial Reports from January 2001
President Blair presented the January minutes for approval. Mr. Seth Phelps said
that on the third page in the second full paragraph wherein a contest to choose
the 2001 conference logo is addressed, the sentence should read, "Ms. Chris
Heger, the new Gulf Coast 9-1-1 Conference Chair, proposed a contest to choose
the 2001 conference logo with the winner receiving free conference
registration" rather than, "the winner receiving a free trip to the
conference." Mr. Bill Meadows motioned to accept the minutes as amended;
Mr. Richard Holt seconded the motion which unanimously carried.
Mr. Richard Holt
presented the financial report for approval. Mr. Roger Wilson made a motion to
accept the report as presented, with Mr. Bill Brodeur seconding. All were in
favor and the motion passed unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
President Blair asked that the members of the Executive Committee stand and be
recognized, and then called for committee reports.
Legislative Committee
Mr. Seth Phelps reported that the loss of wireless revenues from prepaid cards
continues to increase with current figures estimated at 50 percent of the
business. At the last meeting Mr. Phelps asked for anyone who has a good
relationship with any representative to let him know so that work can be done
through these individuals in the legislature. Not getting the response he had
hoped for has led Mr. Phelps to the conclusion that he's probably not the best
person to lead the Legislative Committee. He asked President Blair to remove him
from the chairmanship; Roger Wilson has been appointed as the new chair. Someone
asked if any states have already addressed the prepaid wireless situation. Mr.
Bill Meadows said the Wireless Board is continuing to work with carriers in an
attempt to have them submit prepaid monies every month, but the Board is not
addressing the law. Mr. Meadows said that in talking about prepaid, our
administrative rules say carriers need to pay, but there is no arm to enforce
it. Once the data is in, a report can be compiled, and then the administrative
rules can address where we need to go. Mr. Meadows said the final solution is
going to be protective legislation.
Mr. Phelps reminded
everyone that approval for coverage under the state health insurance plan was
discussed at the last meeting. He read a letter from Mr. William Ashmore to
Representative Steve McMillan. He said it meant that those who have not been
able to get a good health insurance plan simply because of size can now go on
the state plan. And this insurance can be taken into retirement. Mr. Phelps said
copies of the letter are available, and he plans to put the information, which
consists of three different plans, on the WEB.
Regulatory Committee
Mr. Art Faulkner said proposed changes to the Bell South Wire Line Tariff from
the State of Alabama were talked about at the last meeting. A copy of the
proposed tariff was subsequently received from Bell South. Mr. Ray Preston
addressed a few specifics on this. He said that after some of the Bell South
headquarters staff met with the Wireless Board, there was an agreement that Bell
South needed to work closer with the Wireless Board and E 9-1-1. It resulted in
a tariff filing that would allow Bell South to aggregate all access lines of
carriers other than Bell South into one total in their audit. The results of the
audit have been delayed primarily to get this tariff in place so that the audit
can be conducted based on results of the tariff as filed April 13. Most of you
should see a decline in what Bell South is going to bill you.
Wireless Committee
Mr. Blair announced that at the Executive Board meeting it was voted unanimously
that Mr. Bill Meadows from Lee County be recommended to the Governor and the
Wireless Board for another term on the Wireless Board.
Mr. Meadows said some
will see a slight increase and others a significant increase on their wireless
checks due to the new census data out for all of Alabama. As a whole, the
population has increased. Just about all Phase I cost recoveries have been
received for this year. Mr. Max Armstrong said progress is occurring in Phase
II; probably next year the carriers will be asked to provide information on
their cost recovery plan. The FCC has said cost recovery is not an issue
anymore, and there does not have to be a cost recovery mechanism in place for a
carrier to do Phase I or Phase II unless required by state legislation. We
interpret our state legislation as permitting cost recovery but not requiring
it. Mr. Meadows said that Mr. Lee Helms started appointing a committee at the
last meeting of Phase II, with Roger Wilson and Bill Brodeur to serve as adjunct
members to our board for Alabama NENA. Mr. Brodeur said he would like to add
that everyone who can accept Phase II should send a letter to the carriers,
because that may cause them to express their need for help with money. The
Wireless Board is going to have to look at it statewide. The carriers are also
telling us that some districts are not requesting Phase I. Every time a new
carrier comes in, you have to send them a letter.
Mr. Art Faulkner reported
that about nine states met with the FCC's wireless division. It appears that
their primary goal is to take care of the PSAP. They are very serious about the
six-month window. If you make a request and a carrier doesn't implement it
within six months, the FCC would like an informal complaint to be filed to
inform them.
Continuing, Mr. Faulkner
said that some type of public information/public education campaign for the
state was discussed at the last Wireless Board meeting. A proposal to run
one-minute spots through the Alabama Radio Network was adopted, and this morning
the Executive Board voted to give the Wireless Board an additional $2500 to
increase the times those are running.
For informational
purposes, Mr. Faulkner announced that U.S. Sentate Bill 800 states that a
wireless company is required to give customer information on wireless 911 calls.
Mr. has sent letters to the telephone companies, with only one still saying a
subpoena is required.
Public Relations
Mr. Roger Wilson reported that the Reddy Fox costume is a very good tool, and
the kids love it. He sent out some PSAs that are playing in various TV markets.
If anyone would like one to air on their local TV station, contact him.
At the national level,
Mr. Blair said the six largest chapters have been asked to do a 911 heroes event
at the National Conference in Orlando. Their responsibility is to pick a child
who has made a significant 911 call. May 15 is the deadline to contact Mr. Blair
with the information. The Executive Committee agreed to contribute up to $1000.
Membership Committee
Mr. Donnie Smith was not present to relate anything on the Membership Committee,
but Mr. Blair stated that 648 cards were mailed out to the membership and that
he had received a check from national NENA for $1700 for dues from the last
quarter.
Liaison Committee
Mr. John Ellison was not present, but Mr. Seth Phelps, member of the
Communications Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, said
the FCC has just awarded a 700 MHz spectrum. States will have to request it, but
it may behoove us to do so because in several years we could use it.
Internet Report
Mr. Ellison was not present for an Internet report. Mr. Blair said he will
request that Mr. Ellison post a sample letter requesting Phase II on the WEB
site if one is not already there.
Historical Committee
Historians Larry Duncan and Jerry Jackson had nothing to report.
Minimum Standards
Committee
Mr. Richard Holt reported that over the last several years committee members
have developed minimum standards which have been approved by NENA and supported
by various groups and agencies. It is now time to have the board that is part of
that minimum standards start functioning as a board in the state of Alabama.
Members will consist of two people from APCO, two from NENA, and one each from
EMS, APOST, and the Fire College for a total of seven. APCO has already
appointed two. Mr. Faulkner made a motion in support of the Minimum Standards
Committee recommendations that Jo Tranter and Lynn Wright represent NENA; that a
letter be written to the other three members that would have representatives on
that board signed by both the president of NENA and the president of APCO
requesting that they appoint someone and this board be started; and that Jo
Tranter be named as interim chairman until the first meeting when a chairman can
be elected. The motion unanimously carried after Mr. Phelps seconded.
The Minimum Standards
Committee has also discussed developing SOPs regarding wireless and handling
wireless calls, but felt they should be looked at by the statewide board rather
than this local committee. Having said that, the Minimum Standards Committee was
disbanded citing that its usefulness was over.
Database Committee
Kelli Brasher, reporting for the Database Committee, stated that in January
standard addressing procedures for the physical location of wireless towers was
discussed, the reasoning behind it being a Phase I requirement. Those who are
verifying valid power site information for the wireless carriers and forwarding
it to them should be aware that the wireless carriers are, in turn, forwarding
it to the SCC. The SCC is considering that as your authorization to put those
entries into your MSAG. Within the next few weeks we are going to take a stand
and let the SCC know that our verifying the location of a wireless tower is not
authorization for anything to go into our MSAG. Unless the maintenance ledger
comes from the addressing coordinator, it is not valid.
Conference Committee
In Chris Heger's absence, Mr. Seth Phelps reported for the Conference Committee.
He said Ms. Heger is working with a professional coordinator on some of the
entertainment for Perdido, and Mrs. Tranter is working hard on the educational
sessions. All areas are progressing well at this time.
Internal Database Task
Force
Mr. Art Faulkner stated there was nothing to report at this time.
Training Committee
Jerry Jackson announced that the first training workshop will be in Montgomery
on May 31 and will be for upper management. Selection, training, and management
processes will be covered. The $50 cost will include lunch, and registration is
required by May 24.
Nominating Committee
Mr. Blair said if you are interested in running for an office, you should inform
Dick Pierce.
LATA Reports
Mr. Ray Preston said in June the area code for the Mobile LATA changes to 251,
permissive dialing to start June 7. Also, it has been announced that the
Birmingham LATA is going to an overlay NPA, meaning there will be two area codes
to the Birmingham LATA. LNP is in some metro areas now. Make sure your
communications personnel are aware of this.
Old Business
There was no old business.
New Business
There was no new business.
Adjournment
The next meeting will be Thursday, July 26, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. in Dothan.
There being no further
business to discuss Mr. Roger Wilson motioned to adjourn; Ms. Lynn Wright
seconded; motion carried.
| 