It turns out missing a day of school due to illness was the best thing that ever happened to 12 year old Dalton Bray and his family. Listen to Dalton's story of how he found his mother suffering from a near diabetic coma, and saved her life by using his new cellphone. To learn more watch this segment from our September installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our September WOW.

Communication during a natural disaster is critically important, a fact that is reinforced in emergency situations. As 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina passed late last month, CTIA marks the occasion withthis look at how service providers place a high priority in keeping their networks up and running in challenged times. To learn more watch this segment from our September installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our September WOW.

Over the last few months, you've heard us sound the alarm on Governors who are raiding their state's E-911 funds to cover things other than their state's E-911 costs. If you haven't been following this issue, here's our policy position.

Here are a few recent postings as well:

• Policy point video explaining Enhanced 911 (aka next-gen 911 which would allow consumers to text for help, improve triangulation/location identification, etc.) 
• Enough is Enough and Stop Raiding E-911 Funds - Background blog posts explaining how some Governors are spending their state's E-911 funds (hint, it's for purposes other than upgrading the E-911 capabilities and technologies)

This past weekend, two state newspapers covered what's happening to their state's E-911 fund. On Sunday, the Press of Atlantic City in New Jersey wrote a "Watchdog Report" on how New Jersey has taken millions of dollars from the E911 fund for other purposes. According to the story, New Jersey is the worst offender by spending more than $100 million on services other than 911.

In today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the reporter's story shows that while Hawaii's E-911 fund did have enough money to upgrade their system, they no longer do since the state diverted "$16 million to balance the [state's] budget." Now, the Chairman of the Wireless E-911 Board said they have to ask their legislators for money to pay for this upgrade -- or risk the chance of being behind. 

You can see the FCC's report  to Congress and see if your state is on the list for using the E-911 funds for other purposes. If it is, contact your elected officials and let them know what you think!

Val Renfro, a Texas grandmother, took matters into her own hands when a man tried to steal her handbag in a parking lot. Combining her own courage with the power of wireless technology, Ms. Renfro played a key role in the thief's eventual apprehension. To learn more watch this segment from our August installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our August WOW.

Last week, a story from The Associated Press raised another red flag on the alarming trend of states raiding E-911 funds to plug budget holes. The article highlights the fact that over the last two years, more than $200 million collected from wireless customers under the premise of an E-911 charge for the purpose of upgrading emergency communications services has been diverted to meet general revenue needs. 

I had the opportunity to discuss the E-911 fund raiding in a recent segment on Fox News Channel. During the interview, I mentioned the FCC’s recently released report to Congress on how states collect and distribute the E-911 taxes and fees. The report found that in 2008 alone, 12 states were guilty of raiding their E-911 funds for other budget purposes. To see a copy of the FCC report, please click here.

While we understand the difficult financial crisis many states are facing, the bottom line is that fund raiding violates the intent for which this money was originally set aside. The end result is that millions of citizens across the country aren’t getting the upgraded, more reliable emergency communications services that they are dutifully paying for every month. 

Enough is enough. 

An editorial in today’s edition of The News Journal in Delaware sums it up best by saying that, “shifting money from one fund to another deceives taxpayers.” The editorial closes with a poignant question, “why can’t we have a little more truth in advertising?”

Earlier this week, I did an interview with Urgent Communications, a leading public safety communications publication, about the recent alarming trend of state and local governments raiding E 9-1-1 funds to make up for budget shortfalls. The two articles below call attention to the work the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) is doing, along with CTIA, on behalf of wireless consumers to raise awareness about this important issue. 

• CTIA, NENA Work to Halt 911 Fund Raids
• Funds for 911 Must Be Protected

To learn more about E 9-1-1, watch this brief “Policy Point” video, check out a recent CTIA Position Brief  , or go to our E 9-1-1 Policy Section on CTIA.org. 

Below is a statement I issued this afternoon in response to Governor Jim Doyle's budget proposal:

On behalf of the wireless industry and Wisconsin consumers, I am disappointed that Governor Doyle decided to place the state's deficit on the backs' of wireless consumers. Wisconsin wireless customers already pay 11.58% in taxes and fees and to burden them with more is unfair. It will also move Wisconsin to become one of the highest wireless tax and fee states in the country.

The purpose of the E9-1-1 funds is to improve public safety systems and infrastructures and ensure 9-1-1 callers can be quickly located in emergency situations and receive an effective emergency response -- from locating missing children to alerting firefighters and police.

Considering Wisconsin has four counties that haven't started implementing Wireless Phase I and since more than 20% of Americans going wireless-only, taking money away from the E9-1-1 fund is a poor decision. In other words, in the event a wireless caller gets dropped, the Public Safety Centers would be able to identify the wireless phone number and call the person back.

While we understand the difficult financial situation Wisconsin is facing, we ask legislators to remember that public safety officials are seeing vital funds disappear and wireless consumers are getting fleeced.