Wash. House Panel Clears 988 Bill
The Washington state House's Finance Committee cleared a bill 10-7 Tuesday to implement national 988. HB-1477 would apply a 30 cent fee to wireless and VoIP lines starting Oct. 1, with increases to 50 cents in 2023 and to 75…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
cents on July 1, 2024. The national suicide prevention line is even more important during the pandemic, said sponsor Rep. Tina Orwall (D) at the virtual hearing. Some committee Republicans raised funding issues. Rep. Brandon Vick (R) said it’s good policy but he's voting no now because he hopes the bill can be improved before final passage. The panel decided not to vote Tuesday on HB-1460 to set up state Lifeline, digital equity and other new USF programs and add a 25 cent telephone and VoIP tax on switched access lines and a 25 cent internet access tax on all internet services.