BATON ROUGE - Every phone line in East Baton Rouge Parish contributes $1.25 a month to keep 911 emergency services running. Now, the EBR Communications District is requesting a small fee increase to strengthen this vital resource. 

Tucked away in an old mall off Florida Boulevard is a state-of-the-art 911 call center. This new facility can serve as a backup if the main site on Harding Boulevard goes down, or both centers can operate together during major events or natural disasters. The call center is always open to all agencies, including airport police, Baton Rouge Fire, and EMS.

The main EBR 911 center on Harding Boulevard handles a call every minute. With technology constantly evolving, the system is being upgraded to support text messages, photos, and even video calls. These modernizations are strongly encouraged by the Federal Communications Commission. 

Upgrading technology and keeping pace with public safety needs is expensive. The fee you see on your phone bill funds the 911 system, and rising costs mean that the EBR Communications District is asking to increase it up to $2 a month per wireless line.