Cell-phone tax for 911 service back on ballot

The use of cell phones is spreading everywhere. As more and more people sign up for cell-phone service, some are opting to drop traditional home-based phone service that depends on a wire.

One thing that keeps many telephone users from dropping their wire-based home service is access to emergency help that's available by dialing 911. In Missouri, a call to 911 from a cell phone is routed to the nearest 911 system capable of handling wireless phone calls, sometimes creating delays in getting emergency information to the proper authorities.

On Missouri's Aug. 6 primary election ballot will be Proposition A, which would permit a tax of up to 50 cents a month on cell-phone bills to pay for systems that would make 911 service available to cell-phone users statewide.

Missouri voters rejected the tax in 1999. But a lot more Missourians have signed up for cell-phone service since then. Having 911 service available by cell phone may be more meaningful to a lot more voters this time around.