1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to emergency communications systems; |
3 | amending s. 365.171, F.S.; redesignating the Florida |
4 | Emergency Telephone Act as the "Florida Emergency |
5 | Communications Number E911 State Plan Act"; providing |
6 | legislative intent; redefining the term "office" to mean |
7 | the Technology Program within the Department of Management |
8 | Services; revising the duties of the office regarding the |
9 | state E911 system plan; revising provisions for content of |
10 | the plan; designating the secretary as the director of the |
11 | statewide emergency communications number E911 system; |
12 | removing a provision authorizing the director to employ |
13 | certain persons; directing the Public Service Commission |
14 | to adopt rules relating to coin-free 911 calls to be |
15 | followed by the telecommunications industry; requiring |
16 | approval of the office for establishing or expanding an |
17 | emergency communications number E911 system; removing a |
18 | provision for existing emergency telephone service; |
19 | authorizing the secretary of the department to apply for |
20 | and accept federal funding assistance; removing provisions |
21 | relating to imposition and collection of the 911 fee and |
22 | to the indemnification of local telephone companies; |
23 | removing a penalty for reporting false information that |
24 | may result in an emergency response; amending s. 365.172, |
25 | F.S.; redesignating the Wireless Emergency Communications |
26 | Act as the "Emergency Communications Number E911 Act"; |
27 | providing legislative intent; revising definitions; |
28 | providing for administration of the fees collected; |
29 | redesignating the Wireless 911 Board as the E911 Board; |
30 | revising membership, powers, duties, and responsibilities |
31 | of the board; redesignating the Wireless E911 Fee as the |
32 | E911 Fee; requiring a study relating to collecting the fee |
33 | on the sale of prepaid wireless service; revising |
34 | provisions for use of revenue collected; providing for |
35 | certain disbursements; providing for rates and collection |
36 | from consumers of voice communications services; providing |
37 | for the authorized use of the fees collected; providing |
38 | for indemnification and limitation of liability for local |
39 | exchange carriers; providing penalties for the misuse of |
40 | the E911 system; exempting prepaid calling arrangements |
41 | from application of specified provisions relating to gift |
42 | certificates and credit memos; authorizing additional |
43 | positions and providing appropriations; providing an |
44 | effective date. |
45 |
|
46 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
47 |
|
48 | Section 1. Section 365.171, Florida Statutes, is amended |
49 | to read: |
50 | 365.171 Emergency communications telephone number E911 |
51 | state plan. "911."-- |
52 | (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section may be shall be known and |
53 | cited as the "Florida Emergency Communications Number E911 State |
54 | Plan Telephone Act." |
55 | (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--It is the intent of the |
56 | Legislature that the communications number "911" be the |
57 | designated emergency communications number. A public safety |
58 | agency may not advertise or otherwise promote the use of any |
59 | communications number for emergency response services other than |
60 | "911." It is further the intent of the Legislature to establish |
61 | and implement and continually update a cohesive statewide |
62 | emergency communications telephone number "E911" "911" plan for |
63 | enhanced 911 services which will provide citizens with rapid |
64 | direct access to public safety agencies by accessing dialing the |
65 | telephone number "911" with the objective of reducing the |
66 | response time to situations requiring law enforcement, fire, |
67 | medical, rescue, and other emergency services. |
68 | (3) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term: |
69 | (a) "Office" means the Technology Program within the |
70 | Department of Management Services, as designated by the |
71 | secretary of the department State Technology Office. |
72 | (b) "Local government" means any city, county, or |
73 | political subdivision of the state and its agencies. |
74 | (c) "Public agency" means the state and any city, county, |
75 | city and county, municipal corporation, chartered organization, |
76 | public district, or public authority located in whole or in part |
77 | within this state which provides, or has authority to provide, |
78 | firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other |
79 | emergency services. |
80 | (d) "Public safety agency" means a functional division of |
81 | a public agency which provides firefighting, law enforcement, |
82 | medical, or other emergency services. |
83 | (4) STATE PLAN.--The office shall develop, maintain, and |
84 | implement appropriate modifications for a statewide emergency |
85 | communications E911 telephone number "911" system plan. The plan |
86 | shall provide for: |
87 | (a) The establishment of the public agency emergency |
88 | telephone communications requirements for each entity of local |
89 | government in the state. |
90 | (b) A system to meet specific local government |
91 | requirements. Such system shall include law enforcement, |
92 | firefighting, and emergency medical services and may include |
93 | other emergency services such as poison control, suicide |
94 | prevention, and emergency management services. |
95 | (c) Identification of the mutual aid agreements necessary |
96 | to obtain an effective E911 "911" system. |
97 | (d) A funding provision that identifies which shall |
98 | identify the cost necessary to implement the E911 "911" system. |
99 | (e) A firm implementation schedule which shall include the |
100 | installation of the "911" system in a local community within 24 |
101 | months after the designated agency of the local government gives |
102 | a firm order to the telephone utility for a "911" system. |
103 |
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104 | The office shall be responsible for the implementation and |
105 | coordination of such plan. The office shall adopt any necessary |
106 | rules and schedules related to public agencies for implementing |
107 | and coordinating the such plan, pursuant to chapter 120. The |
108 | public agency designated in the plan shall order such system |
109 | within 6 months after publication date of the plan if the public |
110 | agency is in receipt of funds appropriated by the Legislature |
111 | for the implementation and maintenance of the "911" system. Any |
112 | jurisdiction which has utilized local funding as of July 1, |
113 | 1976, to begin the implementation of the state plan as set forth |
114 | in this section shall be eligible for at least a partial |
115 | reimbursement of its direct cost when, and if, state funds are |
116 | available for such reimbursement. |
117 | (5) SYSTEM DIRECTOR.--The secretary of the department |
118 | director of the office or his or her designee is designated as |
119 | the director of the statewide emergency communications telephone |
120 | number E911 "911" system and, for the purpose of carrying out |
121 | the provisions of this section, is authorized to coordinate the |
122 | activities of the system with state, county, local, and private |
123 | agencies. The director is authorized to employ not less than |
124 | five persons, three of whom will be at the professional level, |
125 | one at the secretarial level, and one to fill a fiscal position, |
126 | for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section. |
127 | The director in implementing the system shall consult, |
128 | cooperate, and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies. |
129 | (6) REGIONAL SYSTEMS.--Nothing in This section does not |
130 | shall be construed to prohibit or discourage the formation of |
131 | multijurisdictional or regional systems; and any system |
132 | established pursuant to this section may include the |
133 | jurisdiction, or any portion thereof, of more than one public |
134 | agency. It is the intent of the Legislature that E911 service be |
135 | available throughout the state. Expenditure by counties of the |
136 | E911 fee authorized and imposed under s. 365.172 should support |
137 | this intent to the greatest extent feasible within the context |
138 | of local service needs and fiscal capability. This section does |
139 | not prohibit two or more counties from establishing a combined |
140 | emergency E911 communications service by an interlocal agreement |
141 | and using the fees authorized and imposed by s. 365.172 for such |
142 | combined E911 service. |
143 | (7) TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE INDUSTRY |
144 | COORDINATION.--The office shall coordinate with the Florida |
145 | Public Service Commission which shall encourage the Florida |
146 | telecommunications telephone industry to activate facility |
147 | modification plans for a timely E911 "911" implementation. |
148 | (8) COIN TELEPHONES.--The Florida Public Service |
149 | Commission shall establish rules to be followed by the |
150 | telecommunications companies telephone utilities in this state |
151 | designed toward encouraging the provision of coin-free dialing |
152 | of "911" calls wherever economically practicable and in the |
153 | public interest. |
154 | (9) SYSTEM APPROVAL.--No emergency communications |
155 | telephone number E911 "911" system shall be established and no |
156 | present system shall be expanded without prior approval of the |
157 | office. |
158 | (10) COMPLIANCE.--All public agencies shall assist the |
159 | office in their efforts to carry out the intent of this section, |
160 | and such agencies shall comply with the developed plan. |
161 | (11) EXISTING EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE.--Any emergency |
162 | telephone number established by any local government or state |
163 | agency prior to July 1, 1974, using a number other than "911" |
164 | shall be changed to "911" on the same implementation schedule |
165 | provided in paragraph (4)(e). |
166 | (11)(12) FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.--The secretary of the |
167 | department office or his or her designee may apply for and |
168 | accept federal funding assistance in the development and |
169 | implementation of a statewide emergency communications telephone |
170 | number E911 "911" system. |
171 | (13) "911" FEE.-- |
172 | (a) Following approval by referendum as set forth in |
173 | paragraph (b), or following approval by a majority vote of its |
174 | board of county commissioners, a county may impose a "911" fee |
175 | to be paid by the local exchange subscribers within its |
176 | boundaries served by the "911" service. Proceeds from the "911" |
177 | fee shall be used only for "911" expenditures as set forth in |
178 | subparagraph 6. The manner of imposing and collecting said |
179 | payment shall be as follows: |
180 | 1. At the request of the county subscribing to "911" |
181 | service, the telephone company shall, insofar as is practicable, |
182 | bill the "911" fee to the local exchange subscribers served by |
183 | the "911" service, on an individual access line basis, at a rate |
184 | not to exceed 50 cents per month per line (up to a maximum of 25 |
185 | access lines per account bill rendered). However, the fee may |
186 | not be assessed on any pay telephone in this state. A county |
187 | collecting the fee for the first time may collect the fee for no |
188 | longer than 36 months without initiating the acquisition of its |
189 | "911" equipment. |
190 | 2. Fees collected by the telephone company pursuant to |
191 | subparagraph 1. shall be returned to the county, less the costs |
192 | of administration retained pursuant to paragraph (c). The county |
193 | shall provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice to the |
194 | telephone company prior to the collection of any "911" fees. |
195 | 3. Any county that currently has an operational "911" |
196 | system or that is actively pursuing the implementation of a |
197 | "911" system shall establish a fund to be used exclusively for |
198 | receipt and expenditure of "911" fee revenues collected pursuant |
199 | to this section. All fees placed in said fund, and any interest |
200 | accrued thereupon, shall be used solely for "911" costs |
201 | described in subparagraph 6. The money collected and interest |
202 | earned in this fund shall be appropriated for "911" purposes by |
203 | the county commissioners and incorporated into the annual county |
204 | budget. Such fund shall be included within the financial audit |
205 | performed in accordance with s. 218.39. A report of the audit |
206 | shall be forwarded to the office within 60 days of its |
207 | completion. A county may carry forward on an annual basis |
208 | unspent moneys in the fund for expenditures allowed by this |
209 | section, or it may reduce its fee. However, in no event shall a |
210 | county carry forward more than 10 percent of the "911" fee |
211 | billed for the prior year. The amount of moneys carried forward |
212 | each year may be accumulated in order to allow for capital |
213 | improvements described in this subsection. The carryover shall |
214 | be documented by resolution of the board of county commissioners |
215 | expressing the purpose of the carryover or by an adopted capital |
216 | improvement program identifying projected expansion or |
217 | replacement expenditures for "911" equipment and service |
218 | features, or both. In no event shall the "911" fee carryover |
219 | surplus moneys be used for any purpose other than for the "911" |
220 | equipment, service features, and installation charges authorized |
221 | in subparagraph 6. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a |
222 | county from using other sources of revenue for improvements, |
223 | replacements, or expansions of its "911" system. A county may |
224 | increase its fee for purposes authorized in this section. |
225 | However, in no case shall the fee exceed 50 cents per month per |
226 | line. All current "911" fees shall be reported to the office |
227 | within 30 days of the start of each county's fiscal period. Any |
228 | fee adjustment made by a county shall be reported to the office. |
229 | A county shall give the telephone company a 90-day written |
230 | notice of such fee adjustment. |
231 | 4. The telephone company shall have no obligation to take |
232 | any legal action to enforce collection of the "911" fee. The |
233 | telephone company shall provide quarterly to the county a list |
234 | of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any and all |
235 | subscribers who have identified to the telephone company their |
236 | refusal to pay the "911" fee. |
237 | 5. The county subscribing to "911" service shall remain |
238 | liable to the telephone company for any "911" service, |
239 | equipment, operation, or maintenance charge owed by the county |
240 | to the telephone company. |
241 |
|
242 | As used in this paragraph, "telephone company" means an exchange |
243 | telephone service provider of "911" service or equipment to any |
244 | county within its certificated area. |
245 | 6. It is the intent of the Legislature that the "911" fee |
246 | authorized by this section to be imposed by counties will not |
247 | necessarily provide the total funding required for establishing |
248 | or providing the "911" service. For purposes of this section, |
249 | "911" service includes the functions of database management, |
250 | call taking, location verification, and call transfer. The |
251 | following costs directly attributable to the establishment |
252 | and/or provision of "911" service are eligible for expenditure |
253 | of moneys derived from imposition of the "911" fee authorized by |
254 | this section: the acquisition, implementation, and maintenance |
255 | of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) equipment and "911" |
256 | service features, as defined in the Florida Public Service |
257 | Commission's lawfully approved "911" and related tariffs and/or |
258 | the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of other "911" |
259 | equipment, including call answering equipment, call transfer |
260 | equipment, ANI controllers, ALI controllers, ANI displays, ALI |
261 | displays, station instruments, "911" telecommunications systems, |
262 | teleprinters, logging recorders, instant playback recorders, |
263 | telephone devices for the deaf (TDD) used in the "911" system, |
264 | PSAP backup power systems, consoles, automatic call |
265 | distributors, and interfaces (hardware and software) for |
266 | computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems; salary and associated |
267 | expenses for "911" call takers for that portion of their time |
268 | spent taking and transferring "911" calls; salary and associated |
269 | expenses for a county to employ a full-time equivalent "911" |
270 | coordinator position and a full-time equivalent staff assistant |
271 | position per county for the portion of their time spent |
272 | administrating the "911" system; training costs for PSAP call |
273 | takers in the proper methods and techniques used in taking and |
274 | transferring "911" calls; and expenses required to develop and |
275 | maintain all information (ALI and ANI databases and other |
276 | information source repositories) necessary to properly inform |
277 | call takers as to location address, type of emergency, and other |
278 | information directly relevant to the "911" call-taking and |
279 | transferring function. No wireless telephone service provider |
280 | shall be required to participate in any pilot project or to |
281 | otherwise implement a nonemergency "311" system or similar |
282 | nonemergency system. The "911" fee revenues shall not be used to |
283 | pay for any item not listed, including, but not limited to, any |
284 | capital or operational costs for emergency responses which occur |
285 | after the call transfer to the responding public safety entity |
286 | and the costs for constructing buildings, leasing buildings, |
287 | maintaining buildings, or renovating buildings, except for those |
288 | building modifications necessary to maintain the security and |
289 | environmental integrity of the PSAP and "911" equipment rooms. |
290 | 7. It is the goal of the Legislature that enhanced "911" |
291 | service be available throughout the state. Expenditure by |
292 | counties of the "911" fees authorized by this section should |
293 | support this goal to the greatest extent feasible within the |
294 | context of local service needs and fiscal capability. Nothing in |
295 | this section shall be construed to prohibit two or more counties |
296 | from establishing a combined emergency "911" telephone service |
297 | by interlocal agreement and utilizing the "911" fees authorized |
298 | by this section for such combined "911" service. |
299 | (b) If a county elects to obtain approval of a "911" fee |
300 | by referendum, it shall arrange to place a question on the |
301 | ballot at the next regular or special election to be held within |
302 | the county, substantially as follows: |
303 | _____ I am in favor of the "911" emergency telephone system |
304 | fee. |
305 | _____ I am against the "911" emergency telephone system |
306 | fee. |
307 |
|
308 | If a majority of the electors voting on the question approve the |
309 | fee, it may be imposed by the county. |
310 | (c) Any county imposing a "911" fee in accordance with the |
311 | provisions of this subsection shall allow the telephone company |
312 | to retain as an administrative fee an amount equal to 1 percent |
313 | of the total "911" fee collected by the telephone company. |
314 | (14) INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.--All |
315 | local governments are authorized to undertake to indemnify the |
316 | telephone company against liability in accordance with the |
317 | telephone company's lawfully filed tariffs. Regardless of any |
318 | indemnification agreement, a telephone company or commercial |
319 | mobile radio service provider as defined in s. 364.02 shall not |
320 | be liable for damages resulting from or in connection with "911" |
321 | service or identification of the telephone number, address, or |
322 | name associated with any person accessing "911" service, unless |
323 | the telephone company or commercial radio service provider acted |
324 | with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and |
325 | willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property in |
326 | providing such services. |
327 | (12)(15) CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS.--Any record, |
328 | recording, or information, or portions thereof, obtained by a |
329 | public agency or a public safety agency for the purpose of |
330 | providing services in an emergency and which reveals the name, |
331 | address, telephone number, or personal information about, or |
332 | information which may identify any person requesting emergency |
333 | service or reporting an emergency by accessing an emergency |
334 | communications E911 telephone number "911" system is |
335 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and |
336 | s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, except that such |
337 | record or information may be disclosed to a public safety |
338 | agency. The exemption applies only to the name, address, |
339 | telephone number or personal information about, or information |
340 | which may identify any person requesting emergency services or |
341 | reporting an emergency while such information is in the custody |
342 | of the public agency or public safety agency providing emergency |
343 | services. A telecommunications telephone company or commercial |
344 | mobile radio service provider shall not be liable for damages to |
345 | any person resulting from or in connection with such telephone |
346 | company's or commercial mobile radio service provider's |
347 | provision of any lawful assistance to any investigative or law |
348 | enforcement officer of the State of Florida or political |
349 | subdivisions thereof, of the United States, or of any other |
350 | state or political subdivision thereof, in connection with any |
351 | lawful investigation or other law enforcement activity by such |
352 | law enforcement officer unless the telecommunications telephone |
353 | company or commercial mobile radio service provider acted in a |
354 | wanton and willful manner. |
355 | (16) FALSE "911" CALLS.--Whoever accesses the number "911" |
356 | for the purpose of making a false alarm or complaint or |
357 | reporting false information which could result in the emergency |
358 | response of any public safety agency is guilty of a misdemeanor |
359 | of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
360 | 775.083. |
361 | Section 2. Section 365.172, Florida Statutes, is amended |
362 | to read: |
363 | 365.172 Wireless Emergency communications telephone number |
364 | "E911."-- |
365 | (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the |
366 | "Wireless Emergency Communications Number E911 Act." |
367 | (2) FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The |
368 | Legislature finds and declares that: |
369 | (a) The mobile nature of wireless communications service |
370 | creates complexities for providing 911 emergency services. |
371 | (b) Wireless telephone service providers are required by |
372 | the Federal Communications Commission to provide wireless |
373 | enhanced 911 (E911) service in the form of automatic location |
374 | identification and automatic number identification pursuant to |
375 | the terms and conditions set forth in an order issued by the |
376 | Federal Communications Commission. |
377 | (c) Wireless telephone service providers and counties that |
378 | operate 911 and E911 systems require adequate funding to recover |
379 | the costs of designing, purchasing, installing, testing, and |
380 | operating enhanced facilities, systems, and services necessary |
381 | to comply with the requirements for E911 services mandated by |
382 | the Federal Communications Commission and to maximize the |
383 | availability of E911 services throughout this state. |
384 | (d) The revenues generated by the E911 fee imposed under |
385 | this section are required to fund the efforts of the counties, |
386 | the Wireless 911 Board under the State Technology Office, and |
387 | commercial mobile radio service providers to improve the public |
388 | health, safety, and welfare and serve a public purpose by |
389 | providing emergency telephone assistance through wireless |
390 | communications. |
391 | (e) It is necessary and beneficial to levy a fee on |
392 | wireless services and to create the Wireless 911 Board to |
393 | administer fee proceeds as provided in this section. |
394 | (f) It is the intent of the Legislature to: |
395 | (a)1. Establish and implement a comprehensive statewide |
396 | emergency telecommunications telephone number system that will |
397 | provide users of voice communications services within the state |
398 | wireless telephone users with rapid direct access to public |
399 | safety agencies by accessing dialing the telephone number "911." |
400 | (b)2. Provide funds to counties local governments to pay |
401 | certain costs associated with their E911 or the cost of |
402 | installing and operating wireless 911 systems, to contract for |
403 | E911 services, and to reimburse wireless telephone service |
404 | providers for costs incurred to provide 911 or E911 enhanced 911 |
405 | services. |
406 | (c)3. Levy a reasonable fee on users of voice |
407 | communications services, unless otherwise provided in this |
408 | section, subscribers of wireless telephone service to accomplish |
409 | these purposes. |
410 | (d) Provide for an E911 board to administer the fee, with |
411 | oversight by the office, in a manner that is competitively and |
412 | technologically neutral as to all voice communications services |
413 | providers. |
414 | (e) Ensure that the fee established is used exclusively |
415 | for recovery by wireless providers and by counties for costs |
416 | associated with developing and maintaining E911 systems and |
417 | networks in a manner that is competitively and technologically |
418 | neutral as to all voice communications services providers. |
419 |
|
420 | It is further the intent of the Legislature that the fee |
421 | authorized or imposed by this section not necessarily provide |
422 | the total funding required for establishing or providing E911 |
423 | service. |
424 | (3) DEFINITIONS.--Only as used in this section and ss. |
425 | 365.171, 365.173, and 365.174, the term: |
426 | (a) "Active prepaid wireless telephone" means a prepaid |
427 | wireless telephone that has been used by the customer during the |
428 | month to complete a telephone call for which the customer's card |
429 | or balance was decremented. |
430 | (a)(b) "Answering point" means the public safety agency |
431 | that receives incoming 911 calls and dispatches appropriate |
432 | public safety agencies to respond to the calls. |
433 | (b) "Authorized expenditures" means expenditures of the |
434 | fee, as specified in subsection (9). |
435 | (c) "Automatic location identification" means the |
436 | capability of the E911 service which enables the automatic |
437 | display of information that defines the approximate geographic |
438 | location of the wireless telephone, or the location of the |
439 | address of the wireline telephone, used to place a 911 call. |
440 | (d) "Automatic number identification" means the capability |
441 | of the E911 service which enables the automatic display of the |
442 | 10-digit service number used to place a 911 call. |
443 | (e) "Board" or "E911 Board" means the board of directors |
444 | of the E911 Wireless 911 Board established in subsection (5). |
445 | (f) "Building permit review" means a review for compliance |
446 | with building construction standards adopted by the local |
447 | government under chapter 553 and does not include a review for |
448 | compliance with land development regulations. |
449 | (g) "Collocation" means the situation when a second or |
450 | subsequent wireless provider uses an existing structure to |
451 | locate a second or subsequent antennae. The term includes the |
452 | ground, platform, or roof installation of equipment enclosures, |
453 | cabinets, or buildings, and cables, brackets, and other |
454 | equipment associated with the location and operation of the |
455 | antennae. |
456 | (h) "Designed service" means the configuration and manner |
457 | of deployment of service the wireless provider has designed for |
458 | an area as part of its network. |
459 | (i) "E911" is the designation for an a wireless enhanced |
460 | 911 system or wireless enhanced 911 service that is an emergency |
461 | telephone system or service that provides a subscriber with |
462 | wireless 911 service and, in addition, directs 911 calls to |
463 | appropriate public safety answering points by selective routing |
464 | based on the geographical location from which the call |
465 | originated, or as otherwise provided in the state plan under s. |
466 | 365.171, and that provides for automatic number identification |
467 | and automatic location-identification features. E911 service |
468 | provided by a wireless provider means E911 as defined in the |
469 | order in accordance with the requirements of the order. |
470 | (j) "Existing structure" means a structure that exists at |
471 | the time an application for permission to place antennae on a |
472 | structure is filed with a local government. The term includes |
473 | any structure that can structurally support the attachment of |
474 | antennae in compliance with applicable codes. |
475 | (k) "Fee" means the E911 fee authorized and imposed under |
476 | subsection (8). |
477 | (l) "Fund" means the Wireless Emergency Communications |
478 | Number E911 Telephone System Fund established in s. 365.173 and |
479 | maintained under this section for the purpose of recovering the |
480 | costs associated with providing 911 service or E911 service, |
481 | including the costs of implementing the order. The fund shall be |
482 | segregated into wireless and nonwireless categories. |
483 | (m) "Historic building, structure, site, object, or |
484 | district" means any building, structure, site, object, or |
485 | district that has been officially designated as a historic |
486 | building, historic structure, historic site, historic object, or |
487 | historic district through a federal, state, or local designation |
488 | program. |
489 | (n) "Land development regulations" means any ordinance |
490 | enacted by a local government for the regulation of any aspect |
491 | of development, including an ordinance governing zoning, |
492 | subdivisions, landscaping, tree protection, or signs, the local |
493 | government's comprehensive plan, or any other ordinance |
494 | concerning any aspect of the development of land. The term does |
495 | not include any building construction standard adopted under and |
496 | in compliance with chapter 553. |
497 | (o) "Local exchange carrier" means a "competitive local |
498 | exchange telecommunications company" or a "local exchange |
499 | telecommunications company" as defined in s. 364.02. |
500 | (p) "Local government" means any municipality, county, or |
501 | political subdivision or agency of a municipality, county, or |
502 | political subdivision. |
503 | (q) "Medium county" means any county that has a population |
504 | of 75,000 or more but less than 750,000. |
505 | (r) "Mobile telephone number" or "MTN" means the telephone |
506 | number assigned to a wireless telephone at the time of initial |
507 | activation. |
508 | (s) "Nonwireless category" means the revenues to the fund |
509 | received from voice communications services providers other than |
510 | wireless providers. |
511 | (t)(s) "Office" means the Technology Program within the |
512 | Department of Management Services, as designated by the |
513 | secretary of the department State Technology Office. |
514 | (u)(t) "Order" means: |
515 | 1. The following orders and rules of the Federal |
516 | Communications Commission issued in FCC Docket No. 94-102: |
517 | a. Order adopted on June 12, 1996, with an effective date |
518 | of October 1, 1996, the amendments to s. 20.03 and the creation |
519 | of s. 20.18 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations |
520 | adopted by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to |
521 | such order. |
522 | b. Memorandum and Order No. FCC 97-402 adopted on December |
523 | 23, 1997. |
524 | c. Order No. FCC DA 98-2323 adopted on November 13, 1998. |
525 | d. Order No. FCC 98-345 adopted December 31, 1998. |
526 | 2. Orders and rules subsequently adopted by the Federal |
527 | Communications Commission relating to the provision of wireless |
528 | 911 services, including Order Number FCC-05-116, adopted May 19, |
529 | 2005. |
530 | (v)(u) "Prepaid calling arrangements" has the same meaning |
531 | as defined in s. 212.05(1)(e) wireless telephone service" means |
532 | wireless telephone service that is activated in advance by |
533 | payment for a finite dollar amount of service or for a finite |
534 | set of minutes that terminate either upon use by a customer and |
535 | delivery by the wireless provider of an agreed-upon amount of |
536 | service corresponding to the total dollar amount paid in advance |
537 | or within a certain period of time following the initial |
538 | purchase or activation, unless additional payments are made. |
539 | (v) "Provider" or "wireless provider" means a person or |
540 | entity who provides service and either: |
541 | 1. Is subject to the requirements of the order; or |
542 | 2. Elects to provide wireless 911 service or E911 service |
543 | in this state. |
544 | (w) "Public agency" means the state and any municipality, |
545 | county, municipal corporation, or other governmental entity, |
546 | public district, or public authority located in whole or in part |
547 | within this state which provides, or has authority to provide, |
548 | firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other |
549 | emergency services. |
550 | (x) "Public safety agency" means a functional division of |
551 | a public agency which provides firefighting, law enforcement, |
552 | medical, or other emergency services. |
553 | (y) "Rural county" means any county that has a population |
554 | of fewer than 75,000. |
555 | (z) "Service identifier" means the service number, access |
556 | line, or other unique subscriber identifier assigned to a |
557 | subscriber and established by the Federal Communications |
558 | Commission for purposes of routing calls whereby the subscriber |
559 | has access to the E911 system. |
560 | (z) "Service" means "commercial mobile radio service" as |
561 | provided under ss. 3(27) and 332(d) of the Federal |
562 | Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C., ss. 151 et seq., and |
563 | the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103- |
564 | 66, August 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 312. The term "service" includes |
565 | the term "wireless" and service provided by any wireless real- |
566 | time two-way wire communication device, including radio- |
567 | telephone communications used in cellular telephone service; |
568 | personal communications service; or the functional or |
569 | competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line |
570 | used in cellular telephone service, a personal communications |
571 | service, or a network radio access line. The term does not |
572 | include wireless providers that offer mainly dispatch service in |
573 | a more localized, noncellular configuration; providers offering |
574 | only data, one-way, or stored-voice services on an |
575 | interconnected basis; providers of air-to-ground services; or |
576 | public coast stations. |
577 | (aa) "Service number" means the unique 10-digit wireless |
578 | telephone number assigned to a service subscriber. |
579 | (bb) "Sufficient positive balance" means a dollar amount |
580 | greater than or equal to the monthly wireless surcharge amount. |
581 | (aa)(cc) "Tower" means any structure designed primarily to |
582 | support a wireless provider's antennae. |
583 | (bb) "Voice communications services" means two-way voice |
584 | service, through the use of any technology, which actually |
585 | provides access to E911 services, and includes communications |
586 | services, as defined in s. 202.11, which actually provide access |
587 | to E911 services and which are required to be included in the |
588 | provision of E911 services pursuant to orders and rules adopted |
589 | by the Federal Communications Commission. The term includes |
590 | voice-over-Internet-protocol service. For the purposes of this |
591 | section, the term "voice-over-Internet-protocol service" or |
592 | "VoIP service" means interconnected VoIP services having the |
593 | following characteristics: |
594 | 1. The service enables real-time, two-way voice |
595 | communications; |
596 | 2. The service requires a broadband connection from the |
597 | user's locations; |
598 | 3. The service requires IP-compatible customer premises |
599 | equipment; and |
600 | 4. The service offering allows users generally to receive |
601 | calls that originate on the public switched telephone network |
602 | and to terminate calls on the public switched telephone network. |
603 | (cc) "Voice communications services provider" or |
604 | "provider" means any person or entity providing voice |
605 | communications services, except that the term does not include |
606 | any person or entity that resells voice communications service |
607 | and was assessed the fee by its resale supplier. |
608 | (dd) "Wireless 911 system" or "wireless 911 service" means |
609 | an emergency telephone system or service that provides a |
610 | subscriber with the ability to reach an answering point by |
611 | accessing the digits "911." |
612 | (ee) "Wireless category" means the revenues to the fund |
613 | received from a wireless provider. |
614 | (ff)(dd) "Wireless communications facility" means any |
615 | equipment or facility used to provide service and may include, |
616 | but is not limited to, antennae, towers, equipment enclosures, |
617 | cabling, antenna brackets, and other such equipment. Placing a |
618 | wireless communications facility on an existing structure does |
619 | not cause the existing structure to become a wireless |
620 | communications facility. |
621 | (gg) "Wireless provider" means a person who provides |
622 | wireless service and: |
623 | 1. Is subject to the requirements of the order; or |
624 | 2. Elects to provide wireless 911 service or E911 service |
625 | in this state. |
626 | (hh) "Wireless service" means "commercial mobile radio |
627 | service" as provided under ss. 3(27) and 332(d) of the Federal |
628 | Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C., ss. 151 et seq., and |
629 | the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103- |
630 | 66, August 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 312. The term includes service |
631 | provided by any wireless real-time two-way wire communication |
632 | device, including radio-telephone communications used in |
633 | cellular telephone service; personal communications service; or |
634 | the functional or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone |
635 | communications line used in cellular telephone service, a |
636 | personal communications service, or a network radio access line. |
637 | The term does not include wireless providers that offer mainly |
638 | dispatch service in a more localized, noncellular configuration; |
639 | providers offering only data, one-way, or stored-voice services |
640 | on an interconnected basis; providers of air-to-ground services; |
641 | or public coast stations. |
642 | (ee) "Wireless 911 system" or "wireless 911 service" means |
643 | an emergency telephone system or service that provides a |
644 | subscriber with the ability to reach an answering point by |
645 | dialing the digits "911." A wireless 911 system is complementary |
646 | to a wired 911 system as provided for in s. 365.171. |
647 | (4) POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.--The office shall |
648 | oversee the administration of the fee authorized and imposed on |
649 | subscribers of voice communications services statewide E911 |
650 | service under subsection (8). |
651 | (5) THE E911 WIRELESS 911 BOARD.-- |
652 | (a) The E911 Wireless 911 Board is established to |
653 | administer, with oversight by the office, the fee imposed under |
654 | subsection (8), including receiving revenues derived from the |
655 | fee; distributing portions of the such revenues to wireless |
656 | providers, counties, and the office; accounting for receipts, |
657 | distributions, and income derived by the funds maintained in the |
658 | fund; and providing annual reports to the Governor and the |
659 | Legislature for submission by the office on amounts collected |
660 | and expended, the purposes for which expenditures have been |
661 | made, and the status of wireless E911 service in this state. In |
662 | order to advise and assist the office in carrying out the |
663 | purposes of this section, the board, which shall have the power |
664 | of a body corporate, has shall have the powers enumerated in |
665 | subsection (6). |
666 | (b) The board shall consist of nine seven members, one of |
667 | whom must be the system director designated under s. 365.171(5), |
668 | or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chair of the |
669 | board. The remaining eight six members of the board shall be |
670 | appointed by the Governor and must be composed of four three |
671 | county 911 coordinators, consisting of a representative from a |
672 | rural county, a representative from a medium county, a |
673 | representative from a large county, and an at-large |
674 | representative recommended by the Florida Association of |
675 | Counties in consultation with the county 911 coordinators; two |
676 | local exchange carrier members, one of which must be the local |
677 | exchange carrier having the greatest number of access lines in |
678 | the state; and two three members from the wireless |
679 | telecommunications industry recommended by the Florida |
680 | Telecommunications Industry Association in consultation with the |
681 | wireless telecommunications industry. In recommending members |
682 | from the wireless telecommunications industry, consideration |
683 | must be given to wireless providers who are not affiliated with |
684 | local exchange carriers. Not more than one member may be |
685 | appointed to represent any single provider on the board. |
686 | (c) The system director, designated under s. 365.171(5), |
687 | or his or her designee, must be a permanent member of the board. |
688 | Each of the remaining eight six members of the board shall be |
689 | appointed to a 4-year term and may not be appointed to more than |
690 | two successive terms. However, for the purpose of staggering |
691 | terms, two of the original board members shall be appointed to |
692 | terms of 4 years, two shall be appointed to terms of 3 years, |
693 | and four two shall be appointed to terms of 2 years, as |
694 | designated by the Governor. A vacancy on the board shall be |
695 | filled in the same manner as the original appointment. |
696 | (d) The first vacancy in a wireless provider |
697 | representative position occurring after July 1, 2007, must be |
698 | filled by appointment of a local exchange company |
699 | representative. Until the appointment is made, there shall be |
700 | only one local exchange company representative serving on the |
701 | board, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary. |
702 | (6) AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD; ANNUAL REPORT.-- |
703 | (a) The board shall: |
704 | 1. Administer the E911 fee. |
705 | 2. Implement, maintain, and oversee the fund. |
706 | 3. Review and oversee the disbursement of the revenues |
707 | deposited into the fund as provided in s. 365.173. |
708 | a. The board may establish a schedule for implementing |
709 | wireless E911 service by service area, and prioritize |
710 | disbursements of revenues from the fund to providers and rural |
711 | counties as provided in s. 365.173(2)(d) s. 365.173(2)(b) and |
712 | (g) (c) pursuant to the schedule, in order to implement E911 |
713 | services in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. |
714 | b. Revenues in the fund collected and deposited into the |
715 | fund for distribution as provided in s. 365.173(2)(b), but which |
716 | have not been disbursed because sworn invoices as required by s. |
717 | 365.173(2)(d) s. 365.173(2)(b) have not been submitted to the |
718 | board, may be used utilized by the board as needed to provide |
719 | grants to rural counties and loans to medium counties for the |
720 | purpose of upgrading E911 systems. The counties must use the |
721 | funds only for capital expenditures directly attributable to |
722 | establishing and provisioning E911 services, which may include |
723 | next-generation deployment. Prior to the distribution of grants, |
724 | the board shall provide 90 days' written notice to all counties |
725 | and publish electronically an approved application process. |
726 | County grant applications shall be prioritized based on the |
727 | availability of funds, current system life expectancy, system |
728 | replacement needs, and Phase II compliance per the Federal |
729 | Communications Commission. No grants will be available to any |
730 | county for next-generation deployment until all counties are |
731 | Phase II complete. Grants provided to rural counties would be in |
732 | addition to disbursements provided under s. 365.173(2)(c). Loans |
733 | provided to medium counties shall be based on county hardship |
734 | criteria as determined and approved by the board. Revenues |
735 | utilized for this purpose shall be fully repaid to the fund in a |
736 | manner and under a timeframe as determined and approved by the |
737 | board. The board shall take all actions within its authority to |
738 | ensure that county recipients of such grants use and loans |
739 | utilize these funds only for the purpose under which they have |
740 | been provided and may take any actions within its authority to |
741 | secure county repayment of grant and loan revenues upon |
742 | determination that the funds were not used utilized for the |
743 | purpose under which they were provided. |
744 | c. The board shall reimburse all costs of a wireless |
745 | provider in accordance with s. 365.173(2)(d) before taking any |
746 | action to transfer additional funds. |
747 | d. By September 1, 2007, the board shall authorize the |
748 | transfer of up to $15 million to the counties from existing |
749 | money within the fund established under s. 365.173(1). The money |
750 | shall be disbursed equitably to all of the counties using a |
751 | timeframe and distribution methodology established by the board |
752 | before September 1, 2007, in order to prevent a loss to the |
753 | counties in the ordinary and expected time value of money caused |
754 | by any timing delay in remittance to the counties of wireline |
755 | fees caused by the one-time transfer of collecting wireline fees |
756 | by the counties to the board. All disbursements for this purpose |
757 | must be returned to the fund from future remittances by the |
758 | nonwireless category. |
759 | e. After taking the action required in sub-subparagraphs |
760 | a.-d., the board may review and, with all members participating |
761 | in the vote, adjust the percentage allocations or adjust the |
762 | amount of the fee, or both, under paragraph (8)(h), and, if the |
763 | board determines that the revenues in the wireless category |
764 | exceed the amount needed to reimburse wireless providers for the |
765 | cost to implement E911 services, the board may transfer revenue |
766 | to the counties from the existing funds within the wireless |
767 | category. The board shall disburse the funds equitably to all |
768 | counties using a timeframe and distribution methodology |
769 | established by the board. |
770 | 4. Review documentation submitted by wireless providers |
771 | which reflects current and projected funds derived from the E911 |
772 | fee, and the expenses incurred and expected to be incurred, in |
773 | order to comply with the E911 service requirements contained in |
774 | the order for the purposes of: |
775 | a. Ensuring that wireless providers receive fair and |
776 | equitable distributions of funds from the fund. |
777 | b. Ensuring that wireless providers are not provided |
778 | disbursements from the fund which exceed the costs of providing |
779 | E911 service, including the costs of complying with the order. |
780 | c. Ascertaining the projected costs of compliance with the |
781 | requirements of the order and projected collections of the E911 |
782 | fee. |
783 | d. Implementing changes to the allocation percentages or |
784 | adjusting reducing the E911 fee under paragraph (8)(i) (8)(c). |
785 | 5. Meet monthly in the most efficient and cost-effective |
786 | manner, including telephonically when practical, for the |
787 | business to be conducted, to review and approve or reject, in |
788 | whole or in part, applications submitted by wireless providers |
789 | for recovery of moneys deposited into the wireless category, and |
790 | to authorize the transfer of, and distribute, the fee allocation |
791 | to the counties fund. |
792 | 6. Hire and retain employees, which may include an |
793 | independent executive director who shall possess experience in |
794 | the area of telecommunications and emergency 911 issues, for the |
795 | purposes of performing the technical and administrative |
796 | functions for the board. |
797 | 7. Make and enter into contracts, pursuant to chapter 287, |
798 | and execute other instruments necessary or convenient for the |
799 | exercise of the powers and functions of the board. |
800 | 8. Take all necessary and reasonable steps by July 1, |
801 | 2000, to secure appropriate information and reports from |
802 | providers and otherwise perform all of the functions that would |
803 | be performed by an independent accounting firm prior to |
804 | completing the request-for-proposals process under subsection |
805 | (7). |
806 | 8.9. Sue and be sued, and appear and defend in all actions |
807 | and proceedings, in its corporate name to the same extent as a |
808 | natural person. |
809 | 9.10. Adopt, use, and alter a common corporate seal. |
810 | 10.11. Elect or appoint the officers and agents that are |
811 | required by the affairs of the board. |
812 | 11.12. The board may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and |
813 | 120.54 to implement this section and ss. 365.173 and 365.174. |
814 | 12.13. Provide coordination, support, and technical |
815 | assistance to counties to promote the deployment of advanced 911 |
816 | and E911 systems in the state. |
817 | 13.14. Provide coordination and support for educational |
818 | opportunities related to E911 911 issues for the E911 911 |
819 | community in this state. |
820 | 14.15. Act as an advocate for issues related to E911 911 |
821 | system functions, features, and operations to improve the |
822 | delivery of E911 911 services to the residents of and visitors |
823 | to this state. |
824 | 15.16. Coordinate input from this state at national forums |
825 | and associations, to ensure that policies related to E911 911 |
826 | systems and services are consistent with the policies of the |
827 | E911 911 community in this state. |
828 | 16.17. Work cooperatively with the system director |
829 | established in s. 365.171(5) to enhance the state of E911 911 |
830 | services in this state and to provide unified leadership for all |
831 | E911 911 issues through planning and coordination. |
832 | 17.18. Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to |
833 | carry out the powers granted in this section in a manner that is |
834 | competitively and technologically neutral as to all voice |
835 | communications services providers, including, but not limited |
836 | to, consideration of emerging technology and related cost |
837 | savings, while taking into account embedded costs in current |
838 | systems. |
839 | 18.19. Have the authority to secure the services of an |
840 | independent, private attorney via invitation to bid, request for |
841 | proposals, invitation to negotiate, or professional contracts |
842 | for legal services already established at the Division of |
843 | Purchasing of the Department of Management Services. |
844 | (b) Board members shall serve without compensation; |
845 | however, members are entitled to per diem and travel expenses as |
846 | provided in s. 112.061. |
847 | (c) By February 28 of each year, the board shall prepare a |
848 | report for submission by the office to the Governor, the |
849 | President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
850 | Representatives which addresses for the immediately preceding |
851 | calendar year: reflects, for the immediately preceding calendar |
852 | year, the quarterly and annual receipts and disbursements of |
853 | moneys in the fund, the purposes for which disbursements of |
854 | moneys from the fund have been made, and the availability and |
855 | status of implementation of E911 service in this state. |
856 | (d) By February 28, 2001, the board shall undertake and |
857 | complete a study for submission by the office to the Governor, |
858 | the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
859 | Representatives which addresses: |
860 | 1. The annual receipts, including the total amount of E911 |
861 | fee revenues collected by each provider, the total disbursements |
862 | of money in the fund, including the amount of fund-reimbursed |
863 | expenses incurred by each wireless provider to comply with the |
864 | order, and the amount of moneys on deposit in the fund, all as |
865 | of December 1, 2000. |
866 | 2. Whether the amount of the E911 fee and the allocation |
867 | percentages set forth in s. 365.173 have been or should be |
868 | adjusted to comply with the requirements of the order or other |
869 | provisions of this chapter, and the reasons for making or not |
870 | making, if so, a recommended adjustment to the E911 fee. |
871 | 3. Any other issues related to providing wireless E911 |
872 | services. |
873 | 4. The status of E911 services in this state. |
874 | (7) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING |
875 | FIRM.-- |
876 | (a) The board shall issue a request for proposals as |
877 | provided in chapter 287 for the purpose of retaining an |
878 | independent accounting firm. The independent accounting firm |
879 | shall perform all material administrative and accounting tasks |
880 | and functions required for administering the E911 fee. The |
881 | request for proposals must include, but need not be limited to: |
882 | 1. A description of the scope and general requirements of |
883 | the services requested. |
884 | 2. A description of the specific accounting and reporting |
885 | services required for administering the fund, including |
886 | processing checks and distributing funds as directed by the |
887 | board under s. 365.173. |
888 | 3. A description of information to be provided by the |
889 | proposer, including the proposer's background and qualifications |
890 | and the proposed cost of the services to be provided. |
891 | (b) The board shall establish a committee to review |
892 | requests for proposals which must include the statewide E911 911 |
893 | system director designated under s. 365.171(5), or his or her |
894 | designee, and two members of the board, one of whom is a county |
895 | 911 coordinator and one of whom represents a voice |
896 | communications services provider the wireless telecommunications |
897 | industry. The review committee shall review the proposals |
898 | received by the board and recommend an independent accounting |
899 | firm to the board for final selection. By agreeing to serve on |
900 | the review committee, each member of the review committee shall |
901 | verify that he or she does not have any interest or employment, |
902 | directly or indirectly, with potential proposers which conflicts |
903 | in any manner or degree with his or her performance on the |
904 | committee. |
905 | (c) After July 1, 2004, the board may secure the services |
906 | of an independent accounting firm via invitation to bid, request |
907 | for proposals, invitation to negotiate, or professional |
908 | contracts already established at the Division of Purchasing, |
909 | Department of Management Services, for certified public |
910 | accounting firms, or the board may hire and retain professional |
911 | accounting staff to accomplish these functions. |
912 | (8) WIRELESS E911 FEE.-- |
913 | (a) Each voice communications services home service |
914 | provider shall collect the a monthly fee described in this |
915 | subsection imposed on each customer whose place of primary use |
916 | is within this state. Each provider, as part of its monthly |
917 | billing process, shall bill the fee as follows. The fee shall |
918 | not be assessed on any pay telephone in the state. |
919 | 1. Each local exchange carrier shall bill the fee to the |
920 | local exchange subscribers on a service-identifier basis, up to |
921 | a maximum of 25 access lines per account bill rendered. |
922 | 2. Except in the case of prepaid wireless service, each |
923 | wireless provider shall bill the fee to a subscriber on a per- |
924 | service-identifier basis for service identifiers whose primary |
925 | place of use is within this state. Before July 1, 2009, the fee |
926 | shall not be assessed on or collected from a provider with |
927 | respect to an end user's service if that end user's service is a |
928 | prepaid calling arrangement that is subject to s. 212.05(1)(e). |
929 | a. The board shall conduct a study to determine whether it |
930 | is feasible to collect E911 fees from the sale of prepaid |
931 | wireless service. If, based on the findings of the study, the |
932 | board determines that a fee should not be collected from the |
933 | sale of prepaid wireless service, it shall report its findings |
934 | and recommendation to the Governor, the President of the Senate, |
935 | and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31, |
936 | 2008. If the board determines that a fee should be collected |
937 | from the sale of prepaid wireless service, the board shall |
938 | collect the fee beginning July 1, 2009. |
939 | b. For purposes of this section, the term: |
940 | (I) "Prepaid wireless service" means the right to access |
941 | telecommunications services that must be paid for in advance and |
942 | is sold in predetermined units or dollars enabling the |
943 | originator to make calls such that the number of units or |
944 | dollars declines with use in a known amount. |
945 | (II) "Prepaid wireless service providers" includes those |
946 | persons who sell prepaid wireless service regardless of its |
947 | form, either as a retailer or reseller. |
948 | c. The study must include an evaluation of methods by |
949 | which E911 fees may be collected from end users and purchasers |
950 | of prepaid wireless service on an equitable, efficient, |
951 | competitively neutral, and nondiscriminatory basis and must |
952 | consider whether the collection of fees on prepaid wireless |
953 | service would constitute an efficient use of public funds given |
954 | the technological and practical considerations of collecting the |
955 | fee based on the varying methodologies prepaid wireless service |
956 | providers and their agents use in marketing prepaid wireless |
957 | service. |
958 | d. The study must include a review and evaluation of the |
959 | collection of E911 fees on prepaid wireless service at the point |
960 | of sale within the state. This evaluation must be consistent |
961 | with the collection principles of end user charges such as those |
962 | in s. 212.05(1)(e). |
963 | e. No later than 90 days after this section becomes law, |
964 | the board shall require all prepaid wireless service providers, |
965 | including resellers, to provide the board with information that |
966 | the board determines is necessary to discharge its duties under |
967 | this section, including information necessary for its |
968 | recommendation, such as total retail and reseller prepaid |
969 | wireless service sales. |
970 | f. All subscriber information provided by a prepaid |
971 | wireless service provider in response to a request from the |
972 | board while conducting this study is subject to s. 365.174. |
973 | g. The study shall be conducted by an entity competent and |
974 | knowledgeable in matters of state taxation policy if the board |
975 | does not possess that expertise. The study must be paid from the |
976 | moneys distributed to the board for administrative purposes |
977 | under s. 365.173(2)(f) but may not exceed $250,000. |
978 | 3. All voice communications services providers not |
979 | addressed under subparagraphs 1. and 2. shall bill the fee on a |
980 | per-service-identifier basis for service identifiers whose |
981 | primary place of use is within the state up to a maximum of 25 |
982 | service identifiers for each account bill rendered. |
983 |
|
984 | The provider may list the fee as a separate entry on each bill, |
985 | in which case the fee must be identified as a fee for E911 |
986 | services. A provider shall remit the fee to the board only if |
987 | the fee is paid by the subscriber. If a provider receives a |
988 | partial payment for a monthly bill from a subscriber, the amount |
989 | received shall first be applied to the payment due the provider |
990 | for providing voice communications service. |
991 | (b) A provider is not obligated to take any legal action |
992 | to enforce collection of the fees for which any subscriber is |
993 | billed. A county subscribing to 911 service remains liable to |
994 | the provider delivering the 911 service or equipment for any 911 |
995 | service, equipment, operation, or maintenance charge owed by the |
996 | county to the provider. |
997 | (c) For purposes of this section, the state and local |
998 | governments are not subscribers customers. |
999 | (d) Each provider may retain 1 percent of the amount of |
1000 | the fees collected as reimbursement for the administrative costs |
1001 | incurred by the provider to bill, collect, and remit the fee. |
1002 | The remainder shall be delivered to the board and deposited by |
1003 | the board into the fund. The board shall distribute the |
1004 | remainder pursuant to s. 365.173. |
1005 | (e) Effective September 1, 2007, voice communications |
1006 | services providers billing the fee to subscribers shall deliver |
1007 | revenues from the fee to the board within 60 days after the end |
1008 | of the month in which the fee was billed, together with a |
1009 | monthly report of the number of service identifiers in each |
1010 | county. Each wireless provider and other applicable provider |
1011 | identified in subparagraph (a)3. shall report the number of |
1012 | service identifiers for subscribers whose place of primary use |
1013 | is in each county. All provider subscriber information provided |
1014 | to the board is subject to s. 365.174. If a provider chooses to |
1015 | remit any fee amounts to the board before they are paid by the |
1016 | subscribers, a provider may apply to the board for a refund of, |
1017 | or may take a credit for, any such fees remitted to the board |
1018 | which are not collected by the provider within 6 months |
1019 | following the month in which the fees are charged off for |
1020 | federal income tax purposes as bad debt. |
1021 | (f) The rate of the fee shall be set by the board after |
1022 | considering the factors set forth in paragraphs (h) and (i), but |
1023 | may not exceed 50 cents per month per each service identifier |
1024 | number, beginning August 1, 1999. The fee shall apply uniformly |
1025 | and be imposed throughout the state, except for those counties |
1026 | that, before July 1, 2007, had adopted an ordinance or |
1027 | resolution establishing a fee less than 50 cents per month per |
1028 | access line. In those counties the fee established by ordinance |
1029 | may be changed only to the uniform statewide rate no sooner than |
1030 | 30 days after notification is made by the county's board of |
1031 | county commissioners to the board. |
1032 | (g) It is the intent of the Legislature that all revenue |
1033 | from the fee be used as specified in s. 365.173(2)(a)-(i). |
1034 | (h) No later than November 1, 2007, the board may adjust |
1035 | the allocation percentages for distribution of the fund as |
1036 | provided in s. 365.173. When setting the percentages and |
1037 | contemplating any adjustments to the fee, the board shall |
1038 | consider the following: |
1039 | 1. The revenues currently allocated for wireless service |
1040 | provider costs for implementing E911 service and projected costs |
1041 | for implementing E911 service, including recurring costs for |
1042 | Phase I and Phase II and the effect of new technologies; |
1043 | 2. The appropriate level of funding needed to fund the |
1044 | rural grant program provided for in s. 365.173(2)(g); and |
1045 | 3. The need to fund statewide, regional, and county grants |
1046 | in accordance with sub-subparagraph (6)(a)3.b. |
1047 | (b) The fee is established to ensure full recovery for |
1048 | providers and for counties, over a reasonable period, of the |
1049 | costs associated with developing and maintaining an E911 system |
1050 | on a technologically and competitively neutral basis. |
1051 | (i)(c) After July 1, 2001, The board may adjust the |
1052 | allocation percentages or adjust provided in s. 365.173 or |
1053 | reduce the amount of the fee, or both, if necessary to ensure |
1054 | full cost recovery or prevent overrecovery of costs incurred in |
1055 | the provision of E911 service, including costs incurred or |
1056 | projected to be incurred to comply with the order. Any new |
1057 | allocation percentages or reduced or increased fee may not be |
1058 | adjusted for 1 year. The fee may not exceed 50 cents per month |
1059 | per each service identifier number. The board-established fee, |
1060 | and any board adjustment of the fee, shall be uniform throughout |
1061 | the state, except for the counties identified in paragraph (f). |
1062 | No less than 90 days before the effective date of any adjustment |
1063 | to the fee, the board shall provide written notice of the |
1064 | adjusted fee amount and effective date to each voice |
1065 | communications services provider from which the board is then |
1066 | receiving the fee. |
1067 | (j)(d) State and local taxes do not apply to the fee. |
1068 | (k)(e) A local government may not levy the fee or any |
1069 | additional fee on wireless providers or subscribers for the |
1070 | provision of E911 service. |
1071 | (l) For purposes of this section, the definitions |
1072 | contained in s. 202.11 and the provisions of s. 202.155 apply in |
1073 | the same manner and to the same extent as the definitions and |
1074 | provisions apply to the taxes levied under chapter 202 on mobile |
1075 | communications services. |
1076 | (9) AUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES OF E911 FEE.-- |
1077 | (a) For purposes of this section, E911 service includes |
1078 | the functions of database management, call taking, location |
1079 | verification, and call transfer. |
1080 | (b) All costs directly attributable to the establishment |
1081 | or provision of E911 service and contracting for E911 services |
1082 | are eligible for expenditure of moneys derived from imposition |
1083 | of the fee authorized by this section. These costs include the |
1084 | acquisition, implementation, and maintenance of Public Safety |
1085 | Answering Point (PSAP) equipment and E911 service features, as |
1086 | defined in the Public Service Commission's lawfully approved 911 |
1087 | and E911 and related tariffs or the acquisition, installation, |
1088 | and maintenance of other E911 equipment, including call |
1089 | answering equipment, call transfer equipment, ANI controllers, |
1090 | ALI controllers, ANI displays, ALI displays, station |
1091 | instruments, E911 telecommunications systems, visual call |
1092 | information and storage devices, recording equipment, telephone |
1093 | devices and other equipment for the hearing impaired used in the |
1094 | E911 system, PSAP backup power systems, consoles, automatic call |
1095 | distributors, and interfaces, including hardware and software, |
1096 | for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, integrated CAD |
1097 | systems for that portion of the systems used for E911 call |
1098 | taking, network clocks, salary and associated expenses for E911 |
1099 | call takers for that portion of their time spent taking and |
1100 | transferring E911 calls, salary and associated expenses for a |
1101 | county to employ a full-time equivalent E911 coordinator |
1102 | position and a full-time equivalent mapping or geographical data |
1103 | position and a staff assistant position per county for the |
1104 | portion of their time spent administrating the E911 system, |
1105 | training costs for PSAP call takers, supervisors, and managers |
1106 | in the proper methods and techniques used in taking and |
1107 | transferring E911 calls, costs to train and educate PSAP |
1108 | employees regarding E911 service or E911 equipment, and expenses |
1109 | required to develop and maintain all information, including ALI |
1110 | and ANI databases and other information source repositories, |
1111 | necessary to properly inform calltakers as to location address, |
1112 | type of emergency, and other information directly relevant to |
1113 | the E911 call-taking and transferring function. Moneys derived |
1114 | from the fee may also be used for next-generation E911 network |
1115 | services, next-generation E911 database services, next- |
1116 | generation E911 equipment, and wireless E911 routing systems. |
1117 | (c) The moneys may not be used to pay for any item not |
1118 | listed in this subsection, including, but not limited to, any |
1119 | capital or operational costs for emergency responses which occur |
1120 | after the call transfer to the responding public safety entity |
1121 | and the costs for constructing, leasing, maintaining, or |
1122 | renovating buildings, except for those building modifications |
1123 | necessary to maintain the security and environmental integrity |
1124 | of the PSAP and E911 equipment rooms. |
1125 | (10) LIABILITY OF COUNTIES.--A county subscribing to 911 |
1126 | service remains liable to the local exchange carrier for any 911 |
1127 | service, equipment, operation, or maintenance charge owed by the |
1128 | county to the local exchange carrier. As used in this |
1129 | subsection, the term "local exchange carrier" means a local |
1130 | exchange telecommunications service provider of 911 service or |
1131 | equipment to any county within its certificated area. |
1132 | (11) INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.--Local |
1133 | governments are authorized to undertake to indemnify local |
1134 | exchange carriers against liability in accordance with the |
1135 | lawfully filed tariffs of the company. Notwithstanding an |
1136 | indemnification agreement, a voice communications services |
1137 | provider is not liable for damages resulting from or in |
1138 | connection with 911 or E911 service, or for identification of |
1139 | the telephone number, or address, or name associated with any |
1140 | person accessing 911 or E911 service, unless the voice |
1141 | communications services provider acted with malicious purpose or |
1142 | in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of the |
1143 | rights, safety, or property of a person when providing such |
1144 | services. A voice communications services provider is not liable |
1145 | for damages to any person resulting from or in connection with |
1146 | the provider's provision of any lawful assistance to any |
1147 | investigative or law enforcement officer of the United States, |
1148 | this state, or a political subdivision thereof, or of any other |
1149 | state or political subdivision thereof, in connection with any |
1150 | lawful investigation or other law enforcement activity by such |
1151 | law enforcement officer. |
1152 | (9) MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS.-- |
1153 | (a) Each provider, as a part of its monthly billing |
1154 | process, shall collect the fee imposed under subsection (8). The |
1155 | provider may list the fee as a separate entry on each bill, in |
1156 | which case the fee must be identified as a fee for E911 |
1157 | services. A provider shall remit the fee only if the fee is paid |
1158 | by the subscriber. If a provider receives a partial payment for |
1159 | a monthly bill from a subscriber, the amount received shall |
1160 | first be applied to the payment due the provider for the |
1161 | provision of telecommunications service. |
1162 | (b) In the case of prepaid wireless telephone service, the |
1163 | monthly wireless 911 surcharge imposed by subsection (8) shall |
1164 | be remitted based upon each prepaid wireless telephone |
1165 | associated with this state, for each wireless service customer |
1166 | that has a sufficient positive balance as of the last day of |
1167 | each month. The surcharge shall be remitted in any manner |
1168 | consistent with the wireless provider's existing operating or |
1169 | technological abilities, such as customer address, location |
1170 | associated with the MTN, or reasonable allocation method based |
1171 | upon other comparable relevant data. The surcharge amount or an |
1172 | equivalent number of minutes may be reduced from the prepaid |
1173 | subscriber's account since a direct billing may not be possible. |
1174 | However, collection of the wireless 911 surcharge in the manner |
1175 | of a reduction of value or minutes from the prepaid subscriber's |
1176 | account does not constitute a reduction in the sales price for |
1177 | purposes of taxes that are collected at the point of sale. |
1178 | (c) A provider is not obligated to take any legal action |
1179 | to enforce collection of the fees for which any subscriber is |
1180 | billed. The provider shall provide to the board each quarter a |
1181 | list of the names, addresses, and service numbers of all |
1182 | subscribers who have indicated to the provider their refusal to |
1183 | pay the fee. |
1184 | (d) Each provider may retain 1 percent of the amount of |
1185 | the fees collected as reimbursement for the administrative costs |
1186 | incurred by the provider to bill, collect, and remit the fee. |
1187 | The remainder shall be delivered to the board and deposited in |
1188 | the fund. The board shall distribute the remainder pursuant to |
1189 | s. 365.173. |
1190 | (e) Each provider shall deliver revenues from the fee to |
1191 | the board within 60 days after the end of the month in which the |
1192 | fee was billed, together with a monthly report of the number of |
1193 | wireless customers whose place of primary use is in each county. |
1194 | A provider may apply to the board for a refund of, or may take a |
1195 | credit for, any fees remitted to the board which are not |
1196 | collected by the provider within 6 months following the month in |
1197 | which the fees are charged off for federal income tax purposes |
1198 | as bad debt. The board may waive the requirement that the fees |
1199 | and number of customers whose place of primary use is in each |
1200 | county be submitted to the board each month and authorize a |
1201 | provider to submit the fees and number of customers quarterly if |
1202 | the provider demonstrates that such waiver is necessary and |
1203 | justified. |
1204 | (f) For purposes of this section, the definitions |
1205 | contained in s. 202.11 and the provisions of s. 202.155 apply in |
1206 | the same manner and to the same extent as such definitions and |
1207 | provisions apply to the taxes levied pursuant to chapter 202 on |
1208 | mobile communications services. |
1209 | (g) As used in this subsection, the term "provider" |
1210 | includes any person or entity that resells wireless service and |
1211 | was not assessed the fee by its resale supplier. |
1212 | (10) PROVISION OF SERVICES.--In accordance with the order, |
1213 | a provider is not required to provide E911 service until: |
1214 | (a) The provider receives a request in writing for such |
1215 | service from the county 911 coordinator and the affected |
1216 | answering point is capable of receiving and using the data |
1217 | elements associated with the service. |
1218 | (b) Funds are available under s. 365.173(2)(b). |
1219 | (c) The local exchange carrier is able to support the E911 |
1220 | system. |
1221 | (d) The service area has been scheduled for implementation |
1222 | of E911 service by the board pursuant to subparagraph (6)(a)3. |
1223 | If a county's 911 coordinator requests E911 service from a |
1224 | provider, the coordinator shall also request E911 service from |
1225 | all other providers in the area in a nondiscriminatory and fair |
1226 | manner. |
1227 | (12)(11) FACILITATING E911 SERVICE IMPLEMENTATION.--To |
1228 | balance the public need for reliable E911 services through |
1229 | reliable wireless systems and the public interest served by |
1230 | governmental zoning and land development regulations and |
1231 | notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance to the |
1232 | contrary, the following standards shall apply to a local |
1233 | government's actions, as a regulatory body, in the regulation of |
1234 | the placement, construction, or modification of a wireless |
1235 | communications facility. This subsection shall not, however, be |
1236 | construed to waive or alter the provisions of s. 286.011 or s. |
1237 | 286.0115. For the purposes of this subsection only, "local |
1238 | government" shall mean any municipality or county and any agency |
1239 | of a municipality or county only. The term "local government" |
1240 | does not, however, include any airport, as defined by s. |
1241 | 330.27(2), even if it is owned or controlled by or through a |
1242 | municipality, county, or agency of a municipality or county. |
1243 | Further, notwithstanding anything in this section to the |
1244 | contrary, this subsection does not apply to or control a local |
1245 | government's actions as a property or structure owner in the use |
1246 | of any property or structure owned by such entity for the |
1247 | placement, construction, or modification of wireless |
1248 | communications facilities. In the use of property or structures |
1249 | owned by the local government, however, a local government may |
1250 | not use its regulatory authority so as to avoid compliance with, |
1251 | or in a manner that does not advance, the provisions of this |
1252 | subsection. |
1253 | (a) Collocation among wireless providers is encouraged by |
1254 | the state. |
1255 | 1.a. Collocations on towers, including nonconforming |
1256 | towers, that meet the requirements in sub-sub-subparagraphs (I), |
1257 | (II), and (III), are subject to only building permit review, |
1258 | which may include a review for compliance with this |
1259 | subparagraph. Such collocations are not subject to any design or |
1260 | placement requirements of the local government's land |
1261 | development regulations in effect at the time of the collocation |
1262 | that are more restrictive than those in effect at the time of |
1263 | the initial antennae placement approval, to any other portion of |
1264 | the land development regulations, or to public hearing review. |
1265 | This sub-subparagraph shall not preclude a public hearing for |
1266 | any appeal of the decision on the collocation application. |
1267 | (I) The collocation does not increase the height of the |
1268 | tower to which the antennae are to be attached, measured to the |
1269 | highest point of any part of the tower or any existing antenna |
1270 | attached to the tower; |
1271 | (II) The collocation does not increase the ground space |
1272 | area, commonly known as the compound, approved in the site plan |
1273 | for equipment enclosures and ancillary facilities; and |
1274 | (III) The collocation consists of antennae, equipment |
1275 | enclosures, and ancillary facilities that are of a design and |
1276 | configuration consistent with all applicable regulations, |
1277 | restrictions, or conditions, if any, applied to the initial |
1278 | antennae placed on the tower and to its accompanying equipment |
1279 | enclosures and ancillary facilities and, if applicable, applied |
1280 | to the tower supporting the antennae. Such regulations may |
1281 | include the design and aesthetic requirements, but not |
1282 | procedural requirements, other than those authorized by this |
1283 | section, of the local government's land development regulations |
1284 | in effect at the time the initial antennae placement was |
1285 | approved. |
1286 | b. Except for a historic building, structure, site, |
1287 | object, or district, or a tower included in sub-subparagraph a., |
1288 | collocations on all other existing structures that meet the |
1289 | requirements in sub-sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) shall be subject |
1290 | to no more than building permit review, and an administrative |
1291 | review for compliance with this subparagraph. Such collocations |
1292 | are not subject to any portion of the local government's land |
1293 | development regulations not addressed herein, or to public |
1294 | hearing review. This sub-subparagraph shall not preclude a |
1295 | public hearing for any appeal of the decision on the collocation |
1296 | application. |
1297 | (I) The collocation does not increase the height of the |
1298 | existing structure to which the antennae are to be attached, |
1299 | measured to the highest point of any part of the structure or |
1300 | any existing antenna attached to the structure; |
1301 | (II) The collocation does not increase the ground space |
1302 | area, otherwise known as the compound, if any, approved in the |
1303 | site plan for equipment enclosures and ancillary facilities; |
1304 | (III) The collocation consists of antennae, equipment |
1305 | enclosures, and ancillary facilities that are of a design and |
1306 | configuration consistent with any applicable structural or |
1307 | aesthetic design requirements and any requirements for location |
1308 | on the structure, but not prohibitions or restrictions on the |
1309 | placement of additional collocations on the existing structure |
1310 | or procedural requirements, other than those authorized by this |
1311 | section, of the local government's land development regulations |
1312 | in effect at the time of the collocation application; and |
1313 | (IV) The collocation consists of antennae, equipment |
1314 | enclosures, and ancillary facilities that are of a design and |
1315 | configuration consistent with all applicable restrictions or |
1316 | conditions, if any, that do not conflict with sub-sub- |
1317 | subparagraph (III) and were applied to the initial antennae |
1318 | placed on the structure and to its accompanying equipment |
1319 | enclosures and ancillary facilities and, if applicable, applied |
1320 | to the structure supporting the antennae. |
1321 | c. Regulations, restrictions, conditions, or permits of |
1322 | the local government, acting in its regulatory capacity, that |
1323 | limit the number of collocations or require review processes |
1324 | inconsistent with this subsection shall not apply to |
1325 | collocations addressed in this subparagraph. |
1326 | d. If only a portion of the collocation does not meet the |
1327 | requirements of this subparagraph, such as an increase in the |
1328 | height of the proposed antennae over the existing structure |
1329 | height or a proposal to expand the ground space approved in the |
1330 | site plan for the equipment enclosure, where all other portions |
1331 | of the collocation meet the requirements of this subparagraph, |
1332 | that portion of the collocation only may be reviewed under the |
1333 | local government's regulations applicable to an initial |
1334 | placement of that portion of the facility, including, but not |
1335 | limited to, its land development regulations, and within the |
1336 | review timeframes of subparagraph (d)2., and the rest of the |
1337 | collocation shall be reviewed in accordance with this |
1338 | subparagraph. A collocation proposal under this subparagraph |
1339 | that increases the ground space area, otherwise known as the |
1340 | compound, approved in the original site plan for equipment |
1341 | enclosures and ancillary facilities by no more than a cumulative |
1342 | amount of 400 square feet or 50 percent of the original compound |
1343 | size, whichever is greater, shall, however, require no more than |
1344 | administrative review for compliance with the local government's |
1345 | regulations, including, but not limited to, land development |
1346 | regulations review, and building permit review, with no public |
1347 | hearing review. This sub-subparagraph shall not preclude a |
1348 | public hearing for any appeal of the decision on the collocation |
1349 | application. |
1350 | 2. If a collocation does not meet the requirements of |
1351 | subparagraph 1., the local government may review the application |
1352 | under the local government's regulations, including, but not |
1353 | limited to, land development regulations, applicable to the |
1354 | placement of initial antennae and their accompanying equipment |
1355 | enclosure and ancillary facilities. |
1356 | 3. If a collocation meets the requirements of subparagraph |
1357 | 1., the collocation shall not be considered a modification to an |
1358 | existing structure or an impermissible modification of a |
1359 | nonconforming structure. |
1360 | 4. The owner of the existing tower on which the proposed |
1361 | antennae are to be collocated shall remain responsible for |
1362 | compliance with any applicable condition or requirement of a |
1363 | permit or agreement, or any applicable condition or requirement |
1364 | of the land development regulations to which the existing tower |
1365 | had to comply at the time the tower was permitted, including any |
1366 | aesthetic requirements, provided the condition or requirement is |
1367 | not inconsistent with this paragraph. |
1368 | 5. An existing tower, including a nonconforming tower, may |
1369 | be structurally modified in order to permit collocation or may |
1370 | be replaced through no more than administrative review and |
1371 | building permit review, and is not subject to public hearing |
1372 | review, if the overall height of the tower is not increased and, |
1373 | if a replacement, the replacement tower is a monopole tower or, |
1374 | if the existing tower is a camouflaged tower, the replacement |
1375 | tower is a like-camouflaged tower. This subparagraph shall not |
1376 | preclude a public hearing for any appeal of the decision on the |
1377 | application. |
1378 | (b)1. A local government's land development and |
1379 | construction regulations for wireless communications facilities |
1380 | and the local government's review of an application for the |
1381 | placement, construction, or modification of a wireless |
1382 | communications facility shall only address land development or |
1383 | zoning issues. In such local government regulations or review, |
1384 | the local government may not require information on or evaluate |
1385 | a wireless provider's business decisions about its service, |
1386 | customer demand for its service, or quality of its service to or |
1387 | from a particular area or site, unless the wireless provider |
1388 | voluntarily offers this information to the local government. In |
1389 | such local government regulations or review, a local government |
1390 | may not require information on or evaluate the wireless |
1391 | provider's designed service unless the information or materials |
1392 | are directly related to an identified land development or zoning |
1393 | issue or unless the wireless provider voluntarily offers the |
1394 | information. Information or materials directly related to an |
1395 | identified land development or zoning issue may include, but are |
1396 | not limited to, evidence that no existing structure can |
1397 | reasonably be used for the antennae placement instead of the |
1398 | construction of a new tower, that residential areas cannot be |
1399 | served from outside the residential area, as addressed in |
1400 | subparagraph 3., or that the proposed height of a new tower or |
1401 | initial antennae placement or a proposed height increase of a |
1402 | modified tower, replacement tower, or collocation is necessary |
1403 | to provide the provider's designed service. Nothing in this |
1404 | paragraph shall limit the local government from reviewing any |
1405 | applicable land development or zoning issue addressed in its |
1406 | adopted regulations that does not conflict with this section, |
1407 | including, but not limited to, aesthetics, landscaping, land use |
1408 | based location priorities, structural design, and setbacks. |
1409 | 2. Any setback or distance separation required of a tower |
1410 | may not exceed the minimum distance necessary, as determined by |
1411 | the local government, to satisfy the structural safety or |
1412 | aesthetic concerns that are to be protected by the setback or |
1413 | distance separation. |
1414 | 3. A local government may exclude the placement of |
1415 | wireless communications facilities in a residential area or |
1416 | residential zoning district but only in a manner that does not |
1417 | constitute an actual or effective prohibition of the provider's |
1418 | service in that residential area or zoning district. If a |
1419 | wireless provider demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local |
1420 | government that the provider cannot reasonably provide its |
1421 | service to the residential area or zone from outside the |
1422 | residential area or zone, the municipality or county and |
1423 | provider shall cooperate to determine an appropriate location |
1424 | for a wireless communications facility of an appropriate design |
1425 | within the residential area or zone. The local government may |
1426 | require that the wireless provider reimburse the reasonable |
1427 | costs incurred by the local government for this cooperative |
1428 | determination. An application for such cooperative determination |
1429 | shall not be considered an application under paragraph (d). |
1430 | 4. A local government may impose a reasonable fee on |
1431 | applications to place, construct, or modify a wireless |
1432 | communications facility only if a similar fee is imposed on |
1433 | applicants seeking other similar types of zoning, land use, or |
1434 | building permit review. A local government may impose fees for |
1435 | the review of applications for wireless communications |
1436 | facilities by consultants or experts who conduct code compliance |
1437 | review for the local government but any fee is limited to |
1438 | specifically identified reasonable expenses incurred in the |
1439 | review. A local government may impose reasonable surety |
1440 | requirements to ensure the removal of wireless communications |
1441 | facilities that are no longer being used. |
1442 | 5. A local government may impose design requirements, such |
1443 | as requirements for designing towers to support collocation or |
1444 | aesthetic requirements, except as otherwise limited in this |
1445 | section, but shall not impose or require information on |
1446 | compliance with building code type standards for the |
1447 | construction or modification of wireless communications |
1448 | facilities beyond those adopted by the local government under |
1449 | chapter 553 and that apply to all similar types of construction. |
1450 | (c) Local governments may not require wireless providers |
1451 | to provide evidence of a wireless communications facility's |
1452 | compliance with federal regulations, except evidence of |
1453 | compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Administration |
1454 | requirements under 14 C.F.R. s. 77, as amended, and evidence of |
1455 | proper Federal Communications Commission licensure, or other |
1456 | evidence of Federal Communications Commission authorized |
1457 | spectrum use, but may request the Federal Communications |
1458 | Commission to provide information as to a wireless provider's |
1459 | compliance with federal regulations, as authorized by federal |
1460 | law. |
1461 | (d)1. A local government shall grant or deny each properly |
1462 | completed application for a collocation under subparagraph (a)1. |
1463 | based on the application's compliance with the local |
1464 | government's applicable regulations, as provided for in |
1465 | subparagraph (a)1. and consistent with this subsection, and |
1466 | within the normal timeframe for a similar building permit review |
1467 | but in no case later than 45 business days after the date the |
1468 | application is determined to be properly completed in accordance |
1469 | with this paragraph. |
1470 | 2. A local government shall grant or deny each properly |
1471 | completed application for any other wireless communications |
1472 | facility based on the application's compliance with the local |
1473 | government's applicable regulations, including but not limited |
1474 | to land development regulations, consistent with this subsection |
1475 | and within the normal timeframe for a similar type review but in |
1476 | no case later than 90 business days after the date the |
1477 | application is determined to be properly completed in accordance |
1478 | with this paragraph. |
1479 | 3.a. An application is deemed submitted or resubmitted on |
1480 | the date the application is received by the local government. If |
1481 | the local government does not notify the applicant in writing |
1482 | that the application is not completed in compliance with the |
1483 | local government's regulations within 20 business days after the |
1484 | date the application is initially submitted or additional |
1485 | information resubmitted, the application is deemed, for |
1486 | administrative purposes only, to be properly completed and |
1487 | properly submitted. However, the determination shall not be |
1488 | deemed as an approval of the application. If the application is |
1489 | not completed in compliance with the local government's |
1490 | regulations, the local government shall so notify the applicant |
1491 | in writing and the notification must indicate with specificity |
1492 | any deficiencies in the required documents or deficiencies in |
1493 | the content of the required documents which, if cured, make the |
1494 | application properly completed. Upon resubmission of information |
1495 | to cure the stated deficiencies, the local government shall |
1496 | notify the applicant, in writing, within the normal timeframes |
1497 | of review, but in no case longer than 20 business days after the |
1498 | additional information is submitted, of any remaining |
1499 | deficiencies that must be cured. Deficiencies in document type |
1500 | or content not specified by the local government do not make the |
1501 | application incomplete. Notwithstanding this sub-subparagraph, |
1502 | if a specified deficiency is not properly cured when the |
1503 | applicant resubmits its application to comply with the notice of |
1504 | deficiencies, the local government may continue to request the |
1505 | information until such time as the specified deficiency is |
1506 | cured. The local government may establish reasonable timeframes |
1507 | within which the required information to cure the application |
1508 | deficiency is to be provided or the application will be |
1509 | considered withdrawn or closed. |
1510 | b. If the local government fails to grant or deny a |
1511 | properly completed application for a wireless communications |
1512 | facility within the timeframes set forth in this paragraph, the |
1513 | application shall be deemed automatically approved and the |
1514 | applicant may proceed with placement of the facilities without |
1515 | interference or penalty. The timeframes specified in |
1516 | subparagraph 2. may be extended only to the extent that the |
1517 | application has not been granted or denied because the local |
1518 | government's procedures generally applicable to all other |
1519 | similar types of applications require action by the governing |
1520 | body and such action has not taken place within the timeframes |
1521 | specified in subparagraph 2. Under such circumstances, the local |
1522 | government must act to either grant or deny the application at |
1523 | its next regularly scheduled meeting or, otherwise, the |
1524 | application is deemed to be automatically approved. |
1525 | c. To be effective, a waiver of the timeframes set forth |
1526 | in this paragraph must be voluntarily agreed to by the applicant |
1527 | and the local government. A local government may request, but |
1528 | not require, a waiver of the timeframes by the applicant, except |
1529 | that, with respect to a specific application, a one-time waiver |
1530 | may be required in the case of a declared local, state, or |
1531 | federal emergency that directly affects the administration of |
1532 | all permitting activities of the local government. |
1533 | (e) The replacement of or modification to a wireless |
1534 | communications facility, except a tower, that results in a |
1535 | wireless communications facility not readily discernibly |
1536 | different in size, type, and appearance when viewed from ground |
1537 | level from surrounding properties, and the replacement or |
1538 | modification of equipment that is not visible from surrounding |
1539 | properties, all as reasonably determined by the local |
1540 | government, are subject to no more than applicable building |
1541 | permit review. |
1542 | (f) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the |
1543 | Department of Management Services shall negotiate, in the name |
1544 | of the state, leases for wireless communications facilities that |
1545 | provide access to state government-owned property not acquired |
1546 | for transportation purposes, and the Department of |
1547 | Transportation shall negotiate, in the name of the state, leases |
1548 | for wireless communications facilities that provide access to |
1549 | property acquired for state rights-of-way. On property acquired |
1550 | for transportation purposes, leases shall be granted in |
1551 | accordance with s. 337.251. On other state government-owned |
1552 | property, leases shall be granted on a space available, first- |
1553 | come, first-served basis. Payments required by state government |
1554 | under a lease must be reasonable and must reflect the market |
1555 | rate for the use of the state government-owned property. The |
1556 | Department of Management Services and the Department of |
1557 | Transportation are authorized to adopt rules for the terms and |
1558 | conditions and granting of any such leases. |
1559 | (g) If any person adversely affected by any action, or |
1560 | failure to act, or regulation, or requirement of a local |
1561 | government in the review or regulation of the wireless |
1562 | communication facilities files an appeal or brings an |
1563 | appropriate action in a court or venue of competent |
1564 | jurisdiction, following the exhaustion of all administrative |
1565 | remedies, the matter shall be considered on an expedited basis. |
1566 | (13)(12) MISUSE OF WIRELESS 911 OR E911 SYSTEM; |
1567 | PENALTY.--911 and E911 service must be used solely for emergency |
1568 | communications by the public. Any person who accesses the number |
1569 | 911 for the purpose of making a false alarm or complaint or |
1570 | reporting false information that could result in the emergency |
1571 | response of any public safety agency; any person who knowingly |
1572 | uses or attempts to use such service for a purpose other than |
1573 | obtaining public safety assistance;, or any person who knowingly |
1574 | uses or attempts to use such service in an effort to avoid any |
1575 | charge for service, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, |
1576 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. After being |
1577 | convicted of unauthorized use of such service four times, a |
1578 | person who continues to engage in such unauthorized use commits |
1579 | a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. |
1580 | 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In addition, if the value of |
1581 | the service or the service charge obtained in a manner |
1582 | prohibited by this subsection exceeds $100, the person |
1583 | committing the offense commits a felony of the third degree, |
1584 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
1585 | (14)(13) STATE LAW NOT PREEMPTED.--This section and ss. |
1586 | 365.173 and 365.174 do not alter any state law that otherwise |
1587 | regulates voice communications services providers of |
1588 | telecommunications service. |
1589 | Section 3. Section 501.95(2)(a), Florida Statutes, as |
1590 | created in CS for CS for CS for SB 1638 or similar legislation, |
1591 | does not apply to prepaid calling arrangements as defined in s. |
1592 | 212.05(1)(e), Florida Statutes, including prepaid cards for |
1593 | wireless or wireline telecommunications service. |
1594 | Section 4. Two and one-half full-time equivalent positions |
1595 | are authorized with an associated salary rate of 151,278, and |
1596 | the sum of $561,834 in recurring funds is appropriated for the |
1597 | 2007-2008 fiscal year from the Emergency Communications Number |
1598 | E911 System Fund of the Department of Management Services from |
1599 | revenue received pursuant to s. 365.173, Florida Statutes, for |
1600 | expenditures related to the creation of the statewide E911 |
1601 | board. |
1602 | Section 5. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of $56 |
1603 | million in recurring funds is appropriated from the Emergency |
1604 | Communications Number E911 System Fund in the Department of |
1605 | Management Services to provide for the distribution of |
1606 | nonwireless fees to counties. |
1607 | Section 6. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of |
1608 | $12,541,000 in recurring funds is appropriated from the |
1609 | Emergency Communications Number E911 System Fund in the |
1610 | Department of Management Services to provide for an increase in |
1611 | the distribution to counties for wireless fees. |
1612 | Section 7. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of $25 |
1613 | million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the Emergency |
1614 | Communications Number E911 System Fund and placed in reserve in |
1615 | the Department of Management Services to provide grants to |
1616 | counties pursuant to s. 365.172(6)(a)3.b., Florida Statutes. The |
1617 | department is authorized to request the release of funds |
1618 | pursuant to the provisions in chapter 216, Florida Statutes. |
1619 | Section 8. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |