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posted by martyb on Monday February 12 2018, @10:04AM   Printer-friendly
from the states-needed-help-too dept.

Two members of the Federal Communications Commission want to stop states from using 911 funds to pay for other government services or equipment.

"On our individual phone bills, a line item is typically included for 911 service," FCC Commissioners Michael O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in an op-ed for The Hill today. It's a relatively small fee that states and localities charge to support emergency calling services. But too many states are stealing these funds and using them for other purposes, like filling budget gaps, purchasing vehicles, or worse."

The FCC's latest annual report on 911 fees, covering calendar year 2016, said that New Mexico, Rhode Island, Illinois, New Jersey, and West Virginia "diverted" 911 funds totaling $128.9 million.

Besides those five states, "another seven didn't even bother to respond to our inquiry to examine their diversion practices," O'Rielly and Rosenworcel wrote. "None of this is acceptable."

New York is one state that did not submit a report for the FCC's data collection, "but sufficient public record information exists to support a finding that New York diverted funds for non-public safety uses," the FCC report said.

ArsTechnica


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  • (Score: 2, Informative) by fustakrakich on Tuesday February 13 2018, @01:05PM

    by fustakrakich (6150) on Tuesday February 13 2018, @01:05PM (#637082) Journal

    Maybe because it's true? And appropriate in the given context? And the people who refuse to acknowledge such things need to have their noses rubbed in it, despite the stench? And what, are you trying to be uber edgy and cool by bitching about it? You can down vote it if you want. I don't mind, or you could just save your breath (and keyboard) and not get so worked up over nothing.

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