Delaware’s 911 surcharge rises Oct. 1 as state funds Next Generation 911

Delaware’s 911 surcharge will rise by 30 cents per month for each covered communications connection on October 1, 2026, under a law that creates a larger funding stream for the state’s transition to Next Generation 911.

Gov. Matt Meyer signed House Bill 468 on June 30. The law is already enacted, but the billing change will take effect before Delaware completes the planned conversion from its legacy Enhanced 911 system to a statewide internet protocol-based network.

What changes on Oct. 1

The monthly surcharge will increase from $0.60 to $0.90 for covered residential telephone, business telephone, wireless and nontraditional communications services. Telecommunications providers collect the surcharge from subscribers and remit it to Delaware’s 911 System Fund.

For one billable connection, the annual charge will rise from $7.20 to $10.80, an increase of $3.60 per year. Because the charge applies per covered connection, a household or business with multiple billable lines could see more than 30 cents added to its total monthly bill.

October 1 is the surcharge-effective date. It is not a deadline for every planned Next Generation 911 capability to become available statewide.

How much money the change is expected to raise

An Office of the Controller General fee-impact document estimates about 1.25 million billable connections across Delaware’s covered service categories. The current surcharge generates approximately $9 million annually.

Assuming the number of connections remains relatively stable, the document estimates additional revenue of $3.375 million in fiscal year 2027 and $4.5 million in each of fiscal years 2028 and 2029. Those figures are projections, not guaranteed collections.

The money will go into the 911 System Fund rather than unrestricted state spending. House Bill 468 authorizes fund expenditures for the administration, operation, maintenance, upgrade and enhancement of the statewide 911 system.

What the fund can pay for

Eligible costs include network infrastructure, call-handling equipment, software, telecommunications infrastructure, cybersecurity, geographic information systems, training, public education, language translation, maintenance, contracts and related administrative expenses.

The law also gives the E911 Board responsibility for administering the fund, monitoring communications technology, coordinating technical and operating standards, and developing strategies for an interconnected statewide NG911 network. Through the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the board is designated as the exclusive contracting agent for the statewide 911 system, while public safety answering points may obtain supplemental programs and equipment.

What Next Generation 911 is intended to add

House Bill 468 defines NG911 as a digital, internet protocol-based system. Its definition of next-generation technology includes equipment and services that allow public safety answering points to receive emergency communications by voice, text, video or other technology authorized under federal law, regulation or industry standards.

Delaware already processes text-to-911 messages. The state says the planned NG911 network is intended to expand modern communications capabilities, improve caller-location information, strengthen data sharing with first responders and increase system resiliency. Those are planned objectives, not statewide outcomes established by the law or already completed through the surcharge change.

According to a July 20 state announcement, Delaware’s emergency communications professionals handle more than 700,000 voice 911 calls and at least 20,000 text-to-911 messages each year. The statewide system has eight public safety answering points staffed by approximately 300 telecommunications specialists.

What residents should watch next

The enacted law establishes the funding and governance framework, but the cited state materials do not provide a complete public timetable for statewide network procurement, technical deployment, provider billing guidance or individual PSAP conversions.

Residents should check communications bills beginning in October for the higher surcharge and follow updates from the Delaware E911 Board and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security as the state develops procurement, technical and implementation details.

Sources

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