Watch CBS News

County Officials Warn Of Chaos If 911 Phone Surcharge Fees Don't Increase In Pennsylvania

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's County Commissioners are warning of chaos, if the state legislature doesn't increase the phone surcharge fees it collects to run the 9-1-1 emergency system.

The Commissioners Association says charges have been added to phone service haphazardly, as new technology emerged, so that fees ranging from a dollar to a $1.50 a month are collected in three different ways and sent to three different funds.

Together, the fees bring in about $188-million a year, but costs to run 9-1-1 services total almost $300-million.

The Commissioners want a fee of $2 across the board.

But Delaware County state representative Stephen Barrar says that would bring in too much money. He's just introduced a bill to set a flat fee of $1.65.

The Commissioners warn something must be done before June 30, when the surcharge on cell phones expires, which would end a large chunk of the revenue.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.