ROGERS, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas counties are pushing to increase the fee on
cellphones for 911 emergency response services.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports counties hope to at least
double the fee to 65 cents per month.
Emergency experts say Arkansas 911 centers receive more than 2.3 million calls
annually and 90 percent are made by cellphone. They say the current fee
structure was created to be supported by charges to landline users and hasn’t
covered costs for years.
Josh Curtis is the governmental affairs director of the Association of Arkansas
Counties. He told Legislative committees Thursday the increase is expected
to generate $20 million a year.
Curtis says counties will also seek to have one state board granted the
authority to coordinate 911 call centers.
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