Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act: access line information.
Impact
The legislation aims to enhance the management and accuracy of emergency response funding mechanisms while balancing the proprietary interests of telecommunications providers. It establishes a framework for reporting access line information necessary for fiscal assessments to ensure that revenue generation aligns with the state’s emergency service requirements. This is important for maintaining an efficient dispatch of emergency services as it impacts how fees are calculated based on service subscriptions.
Summary
AB2675, introduced by Assembly Member Quirk, seeks to amend the Revenue and Taxation Code by adding Section 41030.5, which relates to the Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act. The bill stipulates that access line information provided by service suppliers to the Office of Emergency Services will only be subject to public disclosure if it is aggregated such that no specific service supplier details are revealed. This restriction is set against the backdrop of a $0.80 monthly surcharge for each access line and for prepaid mobile telephony services, which funds the costs associated with the state's 911 services.
Contention
One significant point of contention surrounding AB2675 pertains to the limitation it imposes on the public's right to access specific data related to service suppliers. Opponents could argue that this restriction may hamper transparency and accountability in the reporting and use of public funds generated by the surcharge. Proponents, however, assert that this protectiveness is essential to maintain fair competition among service providers and uphold the integrity of proprietary business information necessary for the effective operation of California's Next Generation 911 system.