An Act Regarding Next Generation 9-1-1 and Making Changes in Surcharge Remittance for Certain Telecommunications Service Providers
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1243
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: HOBBINS, CLEVELAND
Amends: 25 MRSA §2921, 25 MRSA §2926, 25 MRSA §2927

Legislative Document 
No. 1243 
H.P. 877 
House of Representatives, March 27, 2013 
An Act Regarding Next Generation 9-1-1 and Making Changes in 
Surcharge Remittance for Certain Telecommunications Service 
Providers 
Submitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HOBBINS of Saco. 
Cosponsored by Senator CLEVELAND of Androscoggin. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 840, §3, is amended 
to read: 
6.  Enhanced 9-1-1 services.  "Enhanced 9-1-1 services" or "E-9-1-1" means a 
system consisting of selective routing 9-1-1 calls or requests to the proper public safety 
answering points with the capability of automatic number or other calling party 
identification and location identification and public safety answering points, which that 
enables users of the public telecommunications' system to request emergency services by 
dialing the digits 9-1-1.  "Enhanced 9-1-1 services" or "E-9-1-1" includes Internet 
protocol enabled services. 
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6-C is enacted to read: 
6-C.  Internet protocol enabled services.  "Internet protocol enabled services" 
means services and applications using Internet protocol, including, but not limited to, 
voice over Internet protocol and other services and applications provided through 
wireline, cable, wireless and satellite facilities and any other facility that is capable of 
connecting users to public safety answering points. 
Sec. 3.  25 MRSA §2926, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 359, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Bureau established.  The Emergency Services Communication Bureau is 
established within the Public Utilities Commission to implement and manage E-9-1-1, 
including the deployment of E-9-1-1 service using emerging communications 
technologies, including, but not limited to, Internet protocol enabled services, that are 
capable of connecting users to public safety answering points. 
Sec. 4.  25 MRSA §2927, sub-§2-B, as amended by PL 2011, c. 600, §2 and 
affected by §10, is further amended to read: 
2-B.  Surcharge remittance.  Each local exchange telephone utility, cellular or 
wireless telecommunications service provider and interconnected voice over Internet 
protocol service provider shall remit the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected 
from its customers pursuant to subsection 1-D on a monthly basis and within one month 
of the month collected, except that a utility or provider whose average monthly surcharge 
remittance payment for the prior calendar year is less than $5,000 shall remit the E-9-1-1 
surcharge revenues on a quarterly basis, to the Treasurer of State for deposit in a separate 
account known as the E-9-1-1 fund.  Each telephone utility or service provider required to 
remit statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge revenues shall provide, on a form approved by the 
bureau, supporting data, including but not limited to the following: 
A.  The calculation used to arrive at the surcharge remittance amount; 
B.  The calculation used to arrive at the uncollectible amount of surcharge; 
C.  The total surcharge; 
D.  The month and year or the quarter and year for which surcharge is remitted; 
E.  The legal name of company and telephone number  and, if applicable, the parent 
company name, address and telephone number; and 
F.  The preparer's name and telephone number. 
Prepaid wireless E-9-1-1 surcharges collected by sellers must be remitted to the State Tax 
Assessor in accordance with Title 35-A, section 7104-C. 
Sec. 5.  25 MRSA §2927, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2005, c. 303, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
3.  Expenditure of funds.  The bureau may use the revenues in the E-9-1-1 fund to 
fund staff and to defray costs associated with the implementation, operation and 
management of E-9-1-1, including the deployment of E-9-1-1 service using emerging 
communications technologies, including, but not limited to, Internet protocol enabled 
services, that are capable of connecting users to public safety answering points, and may 
transfer funds to the Other Special Revenue Funds, Emergency Medical Services account 
within the Department of Public Safety to defray the costs, including necessary staffing 
costs, of the Emergency Medical Services' Board in implementing the requirements of 
Title 32, section 85-A.  The bureau, to the extent it determines sufficient funds are 
available in the E-9-1-1 fund, shall use revenues in the E-9-1-1 fund to reimburse local 
exchange carriers and cellular and wireless telecommunications service providers for 
eligible expenses incurred by the carriers and service providers.  For purposes of this 
subsection, the term "eligible expenses" means expenses: 
A.  Incurred in preparing, correcting, verifying or updating subscriber information for 
use in databases necessary to implement the E-9-1-1 system; 
B.  Determined by the Public Utilities Commission to meet the requirements of 
paragraph A and to be reasonable expenses for the services provided; and 
C.  When incurred by a cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider: 
(1) That are approved by the bureau to be properly incurred for the 
implementation of E-9-1-1 technologies and procedures; 
(2) That are not separately billed to customers; and 
(3) For which the provider is not reimbursed from any other source. 
The Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the bureau, shall establish 
procedures for reviewing and approving expenses pursuant to paragraph B. 
SUMMARY 
This bill expands the scope of E-9-1-1 services to include emerging communications 
technologies.  This bill changes the E-9-1-1 surcharge remittance period from monthly to 
quarterly for local exchange telephone utilities, cellular or wireless telecommunications 
service providers and interconnected voice over Internet protocol service providers whose 
average monthly surcharge remittance payment for the prior calendar year is less than 
$5,000 and allows the Emergency Services Communication Bureau to expend funds on 
emerging communications technologies.