SB101 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Cell phone service, including prepaid, E-911 service charge, decreased, collection on prepaid on each sale, collection provided for, Prepaid Wireless 911 Charge Act, Secs. 11-98A-1 to 11-98A-7, inclusive, added; Sec. 11-98-7 am'd.

Summary

The bill lowers the E-911 charge for regular cell service and creates a uniform prepaid wireless 911 charge on prepaid service sales, with no other 911 charges allowed for prepaid services.

What This Bill Does

It reduces the monthly CMRS E-911 service charge from 70 cents to 65 cents per cell connection. It adds a new Prepaid Wireless 911 Charge Act that imposes a charge on each retail sale of prepaid wireless service equal to the monthly E-911 amount, collected by sellers at the point of sale and no longer allowing other state or local 911 charges on prepaid services. It sets up administration and distribution of these funds through the Department and the CMRS Board, including how charges are remitted, how sellers are compensated for collection, and how funds are allocated to emergency districts and provider costs.

Who It Affects

• Consumers of cellular and prepaid wireless services in Alabama, who would pay a lowered monthly E-911 charge for postpaid cell service and a new prepaid 911 charge on purchases of prepaid service.
• Sellers and providers of prepaid wireless service, who must collect the prepaid 911 charge from customers, remit it to the Department, may deduct 4% for collection, and must ensure charges are separately stated on receipts; the Department and CMRS Board handle administration and fund distribution.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-98-7 to decrease the monthly CMRS E-911 service charge to 65 cents per month, statewide.
• Adds Chapter 11-98A, the Prepaid Wireless 911 Charge Act, to impose a uniform prepaid wireless 911 charge on retail sales of prepaid wireless service equal to the regular E-911 monthly rate.
• Requires sellers to collect the prepaid 911 charge at the point of sale, separately disclose the amount to consumers, and remit collected charges to the Department with a 4% deduction allowed for the seller.
• Provides that the Department will remit collected prepaid charges to the CMRS Board within 30 days, after deducting up to 2% for administrative costs, with funds used to support ECDs and compliance costs related to wireless E-911 requirements.
• Declares prepaid wireless 911 charges the exclusive 911 funding obligation for prepaid services, and limits provider/seller liability related to 911 services.
• Allows the prepaid charge to adjust if the postpaid rate changes, with the Department providing at least 30 days notice; the act becomes effective October 1, 2011.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications