Steuben County
Enhanced 9-1-1 Department
David F. Hopkins Tina M. Goodwin
Director Deputy Director
January 25, 2013
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
c/o Natek, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110
Washington, DC 20002
RE: Congressional 9-1-1 Report on State Collection & Distribution of 911 and
Enhanced 911 Fees and Charges dated December 21, 2012
Dear Ms. Dortch:
We are writing to officially place on file a dispute regarding the 911 fee information
provided by NYS. In the full report on Page #22 it is noted that NYS is collecting
$194,787,113 annually on wireless surcharge fees. In a publication Titled 2011-2012
New York State Tax Collections Statistical Summaries and Historical Tables, the NYS
Dept. of Taxation and Finance reports the figure to be $194,615,796 annually. It is
critical to note that on the same page, in the Congressional Report, NYS indicates it
diverted $22.8 million into the NYS general fund. We dispute the format as it implies
that $171,987,113.00 was expended on 911 services in New York. I have attached a
chart based on information provided to us by the NYS Department of Taxation and
Finance as to where the money is actually going. It is a very telling and visual chart.
NYS continues to provide skewed information and makes every attempt to block us from
getting information on the true revenue it is collecting and distribution from the 911
surcharge fees. Each time we receive information it has a different “spin” on it with
different figures. The only reliable source of information we have received has been the
reports from the Department of Taxation and Finance.
There are an estimated 16 million cellular telephone subscribers in NYS, most believing
that this surcharge is being used to support 911 services.
Since 2002 NYS has collected over $1 Billion. The state shares annually with the local
911 Centers, only $10 million which they raided and reduced to $9.3 million dollars since
2009, this amount is made available to the 911 Centers via reimbursement of a small
number of eligible expenditures. An additional $45 million was made available in 2011-
12 through competitive Grants that as of this writing have not been awarded or
distributed. The remainder of the collection goes to various funds within NYS such as the
General Fund, the New York State Police, a Revolving Loan Fund and more.
The Members of the NYS 9-1-1 Coordinators Association and New York State Chapter
of NENA feel obligated to continue to work on correcting what we see as fund raiding
and deception by NYS in the collection and distribution of 9-1-1 surcharge fees.
If we can answer any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Mr. David F. HopkinsTina M. Goodwin CCM
Director, Steuben CountyDeputy Director, Steuben County
Enhanced 911 DepartmentEnhanced 911 Department
3 E Pulteney SQ3 E Pulteney SQ
Bath, NY 14810Bath, NY 14810
Vice President, New York State Chapter
National Emergency NumberAssociation
Cc: Julius Genachowski, Chairman
Mailing Address: 3 East Pulteney Sq, Bath NY 14810-1557
Physical Location: 6979 Rumsey Street EXT, Bath NY
Telephone: (607) 664-2991 Fax: (607) 776-2106
Email: