New bill in Tex. Senate (SB-547) would amend state’s sales tax on telecom services, applying it only to charges that actually pay for local and interexchange phone service. Currently, sales tax is paid on entire phone bill including “public interest” surcharges for universal service, 911, school and library phone discounts, deaf relay service. State Sen. David Sibley (R-Waco), bill sponsor, said it was unfair to tax amount to other taxes, and ending sales tax on surcharges would save phone customers $96 million on state and local sales taxes. But opponents say tax cut is unwise when state’s surplus is dwindling and economy is slowing.
Grayson Wireless said it was developing its network-based Enhanced 911 caller location technology for GSM networks in addition to its systems for other standards, including CDMA and TDMA.. Grayson, arm of Allen Telecom, expects Geometrix GSM solution to be available in 2nd quarter. Technology will allow GSM carriers to meet FCC’s Phase 2 implementation schedule for E911.
New bill in Ore. House would make audio recordings of 911 emergency calls confidential information that couldn’t be disclosed without consent of person making call. Sponsor of HB- 2436, state Rep. Steve March (D-Portland), said treating 911 recordings as public records forces people to relive their tragedies when recordings of their emergency calls are replayed in TV and radio news broadcasts. Bill also would bar publishing verbatim written transcripts of 911 calls without consent.
Bills that would criminalize irresponsible car phone use have appeared in Minn. and Miss. Bill in Minn. House would make it criminal misdemeanor to use any mobile telephone while driving motor vehicles in state. Bill (HF-200) would require penalties for violators but doesn’t specify what they should be. Sponsor, state Rep. Mike Jaros (D-Duluth), acknowledged that total ban on car phone use was longshot, but said bill would help bring issue of irresponsible mobile phone use into public view. Jaros said he was open to compromise, such as allowing hands-free mobile phones and emergency calls to 911. Measure is in House Crime Prevention Committee. Miss. car phone bill (HB-159) would make it criminal misdemeanor to have auto accident because of talking on mobile phone. If police determined mobile phone use caused or contributed to accident, offending driver could be fined $1,000 under bill. Conviction also would be considered persuasive evidence of negligence in any lawsuit arising from accident. Bill is in House Judiciary Committee.
Research group Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) projected in report released Fri. that wireless location-based services revenue would grow to $40 billion in 2006 from $1 billion in 2000. ABI analyst Frank Viquez attributed expected growth, in part, to FCC’s Enhanced 911 requirements that mandate automatic location identification-capable wireless gear. ABI report said Sprint’s plan to deploy GPS chips for location-based technology in its handsets starting in mid-2001 would be boost to industry if handsets were delivered on time.
Bill introduced in Ark. House (HB-1229) would ban use of handheld mobile phones by drivers of moving vehicles except for calls to 911 or those made by emergency service personnel. Drivers would be allowed to use hands-free phone models while on road. There would be only warning without penalty on first offense, with $50 fine for subsequent offense.