November 4, 2003

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today designated First Call of Ottawa County as the 2-1-1 community resource information and referral answering point for Ottawa County.

First Call of Ottawa County will provide operation of the 2-1-1 telephone number 24 hours per day, seven days per week.  The Commission concluded that its approval is provisional, in part, due to the Federal Communication Commission’s ability to recall the 2-1-1 number in 2005.

As required by Section 214 of the Michigan Telecommunications Act (MTA), the MPSC received as part of First Call’s application, written endorsements of the Michigan Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and the Ottawa County Multi-Purpose Coordinating Body, the state-endorsed multipurpose collaborative body in Ottawa County. 

Amendments to the MTA in July 2000, granted the MPSC authority to assign the abbreviated dialing number 2-1-1 to community resource and referral answering points for various geographic areas within Michigan.

Today’s order orders all providers of basic local exchange service within the 11 exchanges (Grand Haven, Holland, Coopersville, Allendale, Borculo, Zeeland, Conklin, Marne, Hudsonville, Drenthe and Jamestown), as clarified, that are wholly or partially within Ottawa County shall take the necessary steps to allow their customers to access First Call of Ottawa County through the use of the 2-1-1 telephone number.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry Services.

Case No. U-13872

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