NY's Collins Files 911 Fee Integrity Act to Pre-Empt State Activities
Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., led filing of the 911 Fee Integrity Act (HR-6424), which would bar states from engaging in 911 fee diversion and give the FCC the power to decide on “acceptable” uses for the money. House Communications Subcommittee…
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Vice Chairman Leonard Lance, R-N.J., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., co-sponsor the measure. HR-6424's introduction follows months of FCC pressure on New Jersey, Rhode Island and other jurisdictions to end their fee diversion activities (see 1802200055, 1802230012, 1804230042, 1805070050 and 1806210026). “It is completely unacceptable that we have seen states diverting fees meant to make important and necessary improvements to emergency response systems,” Collins said. “Diverting these important fees puts lives in danger, especially in rural areas.” FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who has agitated against fee diversion, lauded HR-6424: “States like Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey, and territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, have passed statutes over the years actually requiring the diversion of 9-1-1 funds for non-public safety related purposes. In the case of New Jersey, lawmakers have claimed it will take a constitutional amendment to end the practice. This is absurd and highlights the importance of further Congressional action to bring consistency and clarity to this matter.”