THE TIME AND THE PRICE RIGHT FOR E-911 SYSTEM

Cape Girardeau County voters face an election issue Tuesday, an education tax-and-reform package, that will have a long-range, ongoing impact on the quality of life in this state. Somewhat forgotten on this ballot will be an issue that on any given day will save a life. The county needs 911 emergency telephone service and the issue on Tuesday's ballot deserves a "yes" vote.

The actual system at issue is called E-911, which enhances the technology of Cape Girardeau's current system, in place for 18 years. An affirmative vote would also expand this vital emergency service throughout the county, which has not been served by 911. (Residents of Jackson and elsewhere in the county have had to dial a seven-digit number for emergency assistance, though the 911 number is now almost universally recognized for that purpose.)

The E-911 system will automatically display the caller's telephone number and location to an emergency dispatcher. Advantages of this enhancement are obvious: incapacitated or panicked persons, or those who don't know the address they're calling from, can get help simply by dialing the number. This is true also for small children, who can easily be taught the emergency number but might not respond well to other aspects of a crisis. In addition, the E-911 system should shorten response times of emergency agencies.

What will the system cost? For the first two years, at least, the cost will be 15 percent of the charge for basic telephone service. Before this discourages voters, keep in mind that the maximum basic phone bill in the county is $9.10 a month. (Long-distance charges or optional services do not apply to 911 assessments.) Therefore, the maximum service fee for E-911 would be $1.35 a month for residential phone customers; that's about 4 cents a day. Businesses would pay about $3.45 a month.

Scott City and Commerce, which also have no 911 service, also face Tuesday votes on E-911 systems. Most of the arguments made for the Cape Girardeau County issue, including the affordability, can be made in those munici~palities as well.

In the city of Cape Girardeau, the 911 system is aging and in need of replacement or repair; Tuesday's vote seems an opportune time to upgrade the technology on a system that's going to cost some money anyway. For residents of Jackson and rural areas of the county, the vote represents a chance to tap into an emergency system that is successful and widely recognized. The time and the price are right. We endorse the passage of the E-911 sy~stem in Cape Girardeau County.