Media Contact: 
Anne Veigle, (202) 418-0506
anne.veigle@fcc.gov 

For Immediate Release 

FCC ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE 911 FEES
More Than $200 Million in 2019 Was Diverted for Uses Other Than 911 
	
WASHINGTON, December 8, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission today published its twelfth annual report to Congress on the collection and distribution of 911 fees by states.  The report finds that in 2019, states and territories collected more than $3 billion in 911 fees, and more than $200 million of that funding was diverted for uses other than 911.  The report identifies five states—Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and West Virginia—where 911 fees were diverted for other purposes.  Last year’s report found that almost $198 million in 911 fees were diverted for non-911 uses by the same five states.  
 
“The 911 fees that we pay on our phone bills are essential to maintaining and improving our nation’s 911 services, which makes it outrageous that a handful of states continue to siphon this funding for other purposes.” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “This practice is especially egregious during a time when America has grappled with a pandemic, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, and when we were again reminded of the heroic work of first responders and the critical importance of our 911 system.  The Commission recently sought public input on ways to stop 911 fee diversion, and I encourage all stakeholders help us combat this problem.  I thank Commissioner O’Rielly for shining a spotlight on this shameful practice, as well as House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden and Representatives Anna Eshoo and Chellie Pingree for their efforts in Congress to address the problem.” 

The FCC’s report also contains detailed state-by-state data on other aspects of 911 deployment in the United States, including the number and type of 911 calls, the number of 911 call centers and telecommunicators, investment in Next Generation 911, programs to support cybersecurity for 911 systems, and the extent of state-level oversight and auditing of the collection and use of 911 fees.

The FCC is required by law to submit an annual report to Congress on the states’ collection and distribution of 911 fees.  The FCC’s latest state 911 fee report, as well as reports from prior years, are available at www.fcc.gov/general/911-fee-reports.  The agency also issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the findings in the new report.  In addition, the FCC recently launched a proceeding to examine ways to combat 911 fee diversion. 

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).