In some cases, cell phone customers already have been paying a monthly fee for "enhanced 911" services, even though its not known when the services will be available or how much the system will cost.

AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS have been charging their own separate fee for enhanced 911 services, but Verizon Wireless has not. Now, Verizon and any other companies operating in Hawai'i will add the new charge to customers' bills beginning this month.

Before the enhanced 911 system can be set up, an advisory board will need to meet, likely within the next month or so, according to state officials.

Meanwhile, the state plans to start collecting an estimated $5.9 million annually from 745,000 phone numbers to pay for upgrades at wireless carrier locations and 911 call centers so public safety agencies can better locate lost or injured cell phone users.

The enhanced 911 services could have made it easier for rescuers to locate a plane that crashed near Miloli'i on the Big Island in April, said state Comptroller Russ Saito.

After the crash, someone on board the plane called 911 shortly before 5 p.m., but rescuers couldn't locate the wreckage until about five hours later.

"The public safety issue is when you're using a cell phone, whether you're driving or walking around, you typically don't know where you are, especially if you're lost — you can't describe your location," Saito said. "I think if people understand that's what this does, I don't think they'll complain."

The new fee — created under a bill signed by Gov. Linda Lingle this month — will be charged against each cell phone number not connected with federal, state or county government. Prepaid cell phone users also won't be subject to the fee.

The yet-to-be-formed 11-member advisory board will administer a special fund supported by the new tax. Phone companies and public safety agencies can apply for money from the fund to offset costs associated with rolling out the enhanced 911 service.

The phone companies also will be allowed to keep 1.32 of the 66 cents to cover costs associated with collecting the fee.

AT&T Wireless spokeswoman Rochelle Cohen said the carrier already charges customers nationwide a monthly fee of $1.75 per phone number to cover the cost of complying with federal requirements such as enhanced 911 service and local number portability.

Sprint PCS spokeswoman Vicki Soares said Sprint charges customers 40 cents a month nationwide to offset the cost of enhanced 911 improvements.

Neither Sprint or AT&T would comment on whether they would also seek money from the new special fund to offset the cost of providing cell phone-locating services.

State law does not prohibit companies from charging their own fees and also dipping into the fund.

Verizon Wireless does not charge customers its own fee for enhanced 911 upgrades, said Michael Bagley, executive director for public policy. But July bills will include a message explaining the state-mandated charge.

An enhanced 911 system would be particularly beneficial in Hawai'i, Bagley said.

"The problem is a lot of people come to Hawai'i and if they're visitors, they're not as familiar with their surroundings," he said.

Verizon Wireless said it is ready to start offering the enhanced service, but county 911 call centers still need upgrading.

"It's really the state that needs the upgrading," Bagley said. "Hawai'i is behind, not us.

"That's one of the great things about this legislation is it moves the ball forward."

Although the new tax includes no sunset provision, the advisory board can petition the Legislature to alter or repeal the tax. Enhanced 911 taxes are common on the Mainland, although in several instances money collected by state and local governments has been diverted to non-911 purposes, according to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.

Although special funds have been raided in the past to balance the state budget, Saito said the collection of the new tax will go exclusively for enhanced 911 improvements.

"This is outside the state treasury," he said. "This is specifically for this project."