* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Investigative Hearing - Cell Phones - Access to 311
FOR the purpose of inviting major cell phone service providers in Baltimore City to discuss with the City Council the feasibility of providing 311 access to cell phone subscribers in the City; the cost, if any, to customers; and a time line for implementing 311 access by cellular device in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
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Recitals
On June 11, 2010, the Gazette.Net hailed the launch of Montgomery County’s 311 phone system as “arguably the biggest step Montgomery County will take this year to restructure government and save money.” The County Executive said the size of county government, which has 13,500 phone numbers, made the previous system of calling departments “unworkable and too costly.”
Baltimore City was the first in the nation to implement the 311 non-emergency call system in 1996, originally to relieve the burden on the Police Department’s 911 call center where up to 60% of the calls received were for non-emergency incidents. The City’s 311 service has since expanded to include the City’s One Call Center to access all City agencies and the services they provide. 311 was approved for nationwide use by the FCC in early 1997, and it is estimated that today more than 18% of the population has access.
Montgomery County’s 2010 adoption of the 3...
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