Bills applying state E-911 surcharges to VoIP providers advanced ...
Bills applying state E-911 surcharges to VoIP providers advanced in Pa. and Va. The Pa. Senate passed a bill to make VoIP providers collect E-911 surcharges. Under SB-936, VoIP providers that interconnect with the public switched telephone network would…
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have to impose the state’s $1 monthly 911 fee per line and forward collections quarterly to the state Emergency Management Agency, as other telecom providers must do. The state fee would be listed as a separate line item on bills and be in addition to any other 911 service fee the VoIP provider charges. The 911 collections wouldn’t be deemed part of providers’ gross receipts for state and local tax purposes. Meanwhile, a Va. Senate committee advanced an amended version of a VoIP E-911 bill (SB-395) to widen the jurisdiction of the Wireless E-911 Service Board to all types of VoIP provider. The bill, approved by the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, would alter the E-911 fund distribution formula, sending 70% of funds to local 911 authorities running public safety answer points and 30% to wireless carriers. Senate panel amendments would increase the 911 board to 15 members and give it power to distribute grants for wireless E-911 projects.