Capitol Hill
Congress should consider legislation to withhold federal funds from states that spend 911 money for unrelated purposes, said a public safety coalition including the National Emergency Number Association. In a letter Wednesday to House and Senate Commerce Committee chairmen and…
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ranking members, the coalition said states including Georgia, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin “raided or diverted” money last year in violation of federal restrictions. “In the current budget climate, the message should be clear that Congress will not provide federal funds for 9-1-1 and homeland security to a state that does not properly spend money already in its coffers,” the coalition said. Congress could require the FCC to share results of its annual report on state 911 activities with the Office of Management and Budget and all federal agencies that run public-safety grant programs, it said. “This information could then be taken into consideration as a factor when determining eligibility for federal public safety grants.” Congress should ask the FCC what additional steps the commission can take to prevent the practice, the coalition said. “For example, while the FCC is tasked with enforcing ’truth in billing’ requirements on commercial licensees, the Commission could also enforce a requirement that states be truthful about the fees they impose on consumers that are collected by carriers."