Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disability Telecom Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House OKs raising cap on telephone-relay surcharge to expand services for the hearing-impaired
Summary
The House passed HB 217 to raise the statutory cap on the telephone-relay surcharge from 10¢ to 25¢ (cap only; any increase still requires PSC approval), citing rapid growth in demand and ADA obligations; vote reported 70–2.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House voted Feb. 3 to raise the cap on the telephone-relay surcharge that funds relay services for the hearing-impaired, sending House Bill 217 to the Senate after proponents said the increase is needed to modernize equipment and expand service.
Representative Goodfellow, sponsor of HB 217, told the House the relay began in 1988 with a 3¢ surcharge and has grown steadily; the Public Service Commission currently can permit a 10¢ charge under statute but the relay now handles roughly 31,000 calls per month. "This bill...raises the fee from 10¢ to 25¢," Goodfellow said, adding that any increase would still require Public Service Commission review and approval.
Members who had visited the relay’s Bountiful operation described lean operations and argued the proposed cap increase would allow upgrades and better service under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Representative Ken Johnson, a member of Appropriations, called the relay "the best 10¢ that I spent on my phone bill" and supported the cap increase.
The House voted to put HB 217 at the top of the third reading calendar and then passed the bill with a reported tally of 70 affirmative and 2 negative votes; the bill was referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Next steps: HB 217 will proceed to the Senate; if enacted, any actual surcharge increase would require Public Service Commission approval under the statute.
