§251a — Title 47 Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs | U.S. Code

Summary

Allows states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and Alaska Native village or regional corporations to charge a fee on commercial mobile services or internet voice services to support 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis services. The money must go into a separate account and be spent only as the local law that created the fee says. The fee can only pay for costs the local authority reasonably expects to have that are tied to two things: making sure 9-8-8 calls get routed to the right crisis center, and paying staff and services that directly answer 9-8-8 and provide acute mental health, outreach, and stabilization care. The Federal Communications Commission must report to the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations and the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations no later than 2 years after October 17, 2020, and every year after that, showing how each state, local government, Tribe, or Alaska Native corporation collects and spends these fees and identifying any money spent for other purposes. “Commercial mobile service” — meaning given in section 332(d) of the Communications Act. “Commission” — the Federal Communications Commission. “IP-enabled voice service” — includes interconnected VoIP and one-way interconnected VoIP services. “State” — meaning given in section 615b.

Title 47, §251a

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Nothing in this Act, any amendment made by this Act, the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), or any Commission regulation or order may prevent the imposition and collection of a fee or charge applicable to a commercial mobile service or an IP-enabled voice service specifically designated by a State, a political subdivision of a State, an Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for 9–8–8 related services, if the fee or charge is held in a sequestered account to be obligated or expended only in support of 9–8–8 services, or enhancements of such services, as specified in the provision of State or local law adopting the fee or charge.

(2)A fee or charge collected under this subsection shall only be imposed, collected, and used to pay expenses that a State, a political subdivision of a State, an Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is expected to incur that are reasonably attributed to—

(A)ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 9–8–8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline to an appropriate crisis center; and

(B)personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9–8–8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.

(b)To ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the collection and expenditure of a fee or charge for the support or implementation of 9–8–8 services, not later than 2 years after October 17, 2020, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that—

(1)details the status in each State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) of the collection and distribution of such fees or charges; and

(2)includes findings on the amount of revenues obligated or expended by each State, political subdivision of a State, Indian Tribe, or village or regional corporation serving a region established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for any purpose other than the purpose for which any such fees or charges are specified.

(c)In this section:

(1)The term “commercial mobile service” has the meaning given that term under section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).

(2)The term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission.

(3)The term “IP-enabled voice service” shall include—

(A)an interconnected VoIP service, as defined in section 9.3 of the 11 So in original. title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and

(B)a one-way interconnected VoIP service.

(4)The term “State” has the meaning given that term in section 615b of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 116–172, Oct. 17, 2020, 134 Stat. 832, known as the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

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of 2020 Amendment note under section 609 of this title and Tables. The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

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note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

§251a State Authority Over Fees

Summary

Title 47, §251a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

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