Bills To Increase Cellphone Fees Await Governor Approval

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana cellphone users could face millions of dollars in increased 911 service charges, under two measures sent to the governor's desk.

The Legislature has given final passage to measures from two Republican lawmakers that would raise as much as $20 million a year for local emergency call systems.

Hammond Rep. Chris Broadwater's bill could levy a maximum 40-cent increase for nearly 2.9 million Louisiana wireless customers, according to a fiscal analysis of the measure.

Shreveport Rep. Thomas Carmody's proposal extends the increase to pre-paid phone customers. Fees for those customers, who don't pay monthly service charges, would automatically increase from 2 percent to 4 percent.

Broadwater's proposal would take effect Aug. 1 and Carmody's would follow on Oct. 1, if the governor approves.

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House Bills 805 and 678: www.legis.la.gov

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