More than 600,000 Oahu cellular phone users have been paying a surcharge for almost two years for a special emergency enhanced-911 service that has yet to get off the ground and may take longer than official expect.
The wireless enhanced 911-service can be used to guide rescuers right to a cellular phone when someone calls 911 for help. Enhanced 911 uses global positioning to map the exact location of a cell phone caller seeking help.
The system could be very helpful in cases such as the 2004 Milolii plane crash when traumatized and burned passengers struggled to describe the exact location of the crash. The city had hoped to begin enhanced 911 service this month, but it has been delayed until March, at the earliest because the Honolulu Police Department Dispatch Center is being renovated.
"That's our target date, but there is a caveat on that. However, the construction of the 911 center has to fall on schedule," city Information Technology Director Gordon Bruce said.
Residents have been paying 66 cents a month for the service. The state first started collecting the cell phone 911 cell phone surcharge nearly two years ago. Most people KITV talked with said it is about time they do something.
"I don't understand why it is not being done now," Manoa resident Victoria Hill said.
"We shouldn't pay it if we are not receiving the service," Manoa resident Ben Chang said. "Or else maybe give us a refund since we have been paying since July of 2004. It would be nice if we could get a refund."
The wireless fund has collected $11 million so far.
"The money is still there. The money hasn't been spent on anything else," Bruce said.
The city said another reason for the delay is the difficulty of finding a standardized mapping system for Oahu's four separate dispatch centers.
Previous Stories:
- November 9, 2005: Oahu's Cell Phone Users Await Enhanced 911 Service
- April 21, 2004: Enhanced Wireless 911 Might Have Helped Pilot
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