RYAN SIGNS LEGISLATION EXTENDING 9-1-1 COMPLIANCE DEADLINE

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan has signed legislation that extends the deadline for certain Illinois businesses to install telephone equipment with enhanced 9-1-1 emergency service.

Ryan signed Senate 930, which was approved last year by the 90th General Assembly. The law extends the installation deadline from June 30, 1999 to June 30, 2000.

Ryan said the intent of the law is laudable, but questioned whether many businesses that fall under the requirement should be included in the law. He also questioned whether affected companies throughout the state can meet this June's deadline. The governor urged the General Assembly to continue studying the provisions of the law to determine whether any businesses can be reasonably excluded from the requirement.

"Many small businesses with a few offices and large employers with on-site emergency response teams are examples of those entities which the General Assembly should consider exempting from this requirement," Ryan said.

Under the 9-1-1 law, all entities with "business switched telephone service," more commonly known as Centrex systems, must install enhanced 9-1-1 systems that pinpoint the specific telephone location of an emergency call within a larger office.

However, one-room businesses with Centrex systems also must comply with the law, even though an enhanced system may not be needed.

The Illinois State Chamber of Commerce estimates the cost of installing the enhanced 9-1-1 system is $20,000 for small businesses and as much as $3 million for larger businesses.