Most states who collect 911 surcharges are using the funds strictly for 911-related projects, but a just-issued Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report says 10 states are diverting the money to their general fund, compared to just five states a year earlier. The FCC’s report is the second generated in response to a request from Congress to document how 911 fees are collected and spent. In the latest report covering 2009, there are 22 states collecting surcharges on a state level, 11 on a local level and 19 that collect on both a state and local level. The states reported their 911 surcharge revenue ranged from $203.5 million to $1.4 million during 2009. Most states could only estimate how much revenue they collected from 911 fees, and 15 states were unable to state how much they received in wired or wireless fees. Oddly, Hawaii said they collected $9.5 million in wired/wireless fees, but also stated they transferred $16 million in 911 fees to its general fund. Illinois transferred $30.5 million from its Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund to the general fund, explaining that the funds had been “unclaimed” by carriers. Georgia diverted $8.5 million in surcharge funds, although there are six counties with no 911 system or B911, and 12 counties with no Phase II service (source). Similarly, Nebraska diverted $3.4 million, with 13 B911 counties and eight without Phase II. Download (pdf) the FCC’s report here, and a collection of the state responses here (47 Mb).
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