Re: Ex Parté Communication: 911 Fee Diversion (PS Docket No. 20-291); New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 (PS Docket No. 09-14)
Dear Ms. Dortch,
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating the American public about waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and inefficiency in government. On behalf of the more than 1 million members and supporters of CAGW, I offer the following ex parté comments in support of comments filed by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) on March 23, 2021, regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) efforts to address the diversion of 911 fees by states and other jurisdictions for purposes unrelated to 911.
CAGW has been greatly concerned about 911 fee diversion by states and localities, and we appreciate the FCC’s efforts to reduce the inappropriate use of these funds. When these charges or fees appear on a consumer’s communications bill, the consumer is led to believe that this fee is strictly to help support 911 emergency services. The FCC has put states and territories on notice about their obligation to provide data on 911 fee collections, yet insufficient information is being provided. CAGW supports the recommendation in the CASE filing to establish “a new docket or portal in which non-governmental entities could provide evidence demonstrating that a state or taxing jurisdiction is underfunding 911 services or has failed to meet an acceptable purpose and function for the obligation or expenditure of 911 fees or charges.”
The increased transparency from a new docket or portal will enable the FCC to provide more accountability to taxpayers on where the funds intended to support the nation’s emergency services are being underused, reallocated, or misdirected by their state or local government.
April 1, 2021
VIA ECFS
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Re: Ex Parté Communication: 911 Fee Diversion (PS Docket No. 20-291); New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 (PS Docket No. 09-14)
Dear Ms. Dortch,
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating the American public about waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and inefficiency in government. On behalf of the more than 1 million members and supporters of CAGW, I offer the following ex parté comments in support of comments filed by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) on March 23, 2021, regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) efforts to address the diversion of 911 fees by states and other jurisdictions for purposes unrelated to 911.
CAGW has been greatly concerned about 911 fee diversion by states and localities, and we appreciate the FCC’s efforts to reduce the inappropriate use of these funds. When these charges or fees appear on a consumer’s communications bill, the consumer is led to believe that this fee is strictly to help support 911 emergency services. The FCC has put states and territories on notice about their obligation to provide data on 911 fee collections, yet insufficient information is being provided. CAGW supports the recommendation in the CASE filing to establish “a new docket or portal in which non-governmental entities could provide evidence demonstrating that a state or taxing jurisdiction is underfunding 911 services or has failed to meet an acceptable purpose and function for the obligation or expenditure of 911 fees or charges.”
The increased transparency from a new docket or portal will enable the FCC to provide more accountability to taxpayers on where the funds intended to support the nation’s emergency services are being underused, reallocated, or misdirected by their state or local government.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Schatz