Texas 9-1-1 Alliance

"Uniting districts to improve 9-1-1 service in Texas through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy."

9-1-1 Funding in Texas

The Texas 9-1-1 Alliance is an interlocal cooperation entity composed of 27 Emergency Communication Districts. These Districts provide 9-1-1 service to more than 76% of the population of Texas. This service is largely funded by the 9-1-1 wireless service fee. The service fee in Texas has not changed since 1997. As the cost of providing 9-1-1 service continues to increase, funding remains stagnant. 1997 revenue cannot fund 2025 systems. The Texas 9-1-1 Alliance has worked to advance wireless fee legislation in the Texas legislature during the last two sessions.

Our goal is a sustainable, long-term source of revenue to maintain and advance 9-1-1 in Texas.

A recent study by Texas Tech University assessed the adequacy of our current $0.50 wireless fee and gauged Texans' support for an increase to $0.75. The study found the following:

Texas faces a growing deficit in 9-1-1 funding and the cost to provide 9-1-1 service is rising
Texas is one of only seven states in the U.S. with a wireless fee of $0.50 or less.
Unlike most states, Texas has not adjusted the fee since it was first imposed in 1997.
Most Texans consider upgrading 9-1-1 to be important and would support increasing the 9-1-1 wireless fee from $0.50 to $0.75

Download the Texas Tech University study