Tax to provide telephone services for deaf to drop slightly

Miss-Delectable · 05-25-2005, 02:12 AM

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11728568.htm

BISMARCK, N.D. - A tax that helps provide telephone service for the deaf will drop slightly because more phone lines are being taxed to provide the benefit, state regulators say.

The tax, which is set annually by the state Public Service Commission, is now 6 cents a month for each telephone access line, including wireless phones. It will fall to 5 cents in July, the commission decided Tuesday.

"It goes on all cell bills, on land lines, any access lines in the state," said Tony Clark, the PSC's president.

The state Information Services Division, which administers the tax, estimates it will be applied to 660,115 access line numbers.

The levy finances the operation of Relay North Dakota, a service that hearing customers use to communicate with deaf North Dakotans, and vice versa. It is also used by people who have difficulty speaking.

Users call a toll-free number, and an operator relays conversations, either by speaking or by typing on a TTY, a device used to send text messages over the telephone.

Sprint has provided the relay service through a state contract. The company bills according to use. Clark said it is estimated the service will cost $444,000 during the next budget year, and the relay service fund has a surplus.

The tax money also pays for equipment for low-income people to allow them to use the system, Clark said.

The Legislature approved the relay program 12 years ago. The monthly tax is capped at 11 cents per telephone access line, and it has never gone higher than 10 cents.

The toll-free number for TTYs is 1-800-366-6888. The toll-free number for voice calls is 1-800-366-6889.

ON THE NET

Relay North Dakota: http://www.relaynorthdakota.com/

05-25-2005, 02:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,238 Blog Entries: 3	Tax to provide telephone services for deaf to drop slightly http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11728568.htm BISMARCK, N.D. - A tax that helps provide telephone service for the deaf will drop slightly because more phone lines are being taxed to provide the benefit, state regulators say. The tax, which is set annually by the state Public Service Commission, is now 6 cents a month for each telephone access line, including wireless phones. It will fall to 5 cents in July, the commission decided Tuesday. "It goes on all cell bills, on land lines, any access lines in the state," said Tony Clark, the PSC's president. The state Information Services Division, which administers the tax, estimates it will be applied to 660,115 access line numbers. The levy finances the operation of Relay North Dakota, a service that hearing customers use to communicate with deaf North Dakotans, and vice versa. It is also used by people who have difficulty speaking. Users call a toll-free number, and an operator relays conversations, either by speaking or by typing on a TTY, a device used to send text messages over the telephone. Sprint has provided the relay service through a state contract. The company bills according to use. Clark said it is estimated the service will cost $444,000 during the next budget year, and the relay service fund has a surplus. The tax money also pays for equipment for low-income people to allow them to use the system, Clark said. The Legislature approved the relay program 12 years ago. The monthly tax is capped at 11 cents per telephone access line, and it has never gone higher than 10 cents. The toll-free number for TTYs is 1-800-366-6888. The toll-free number for voice calls is 1-800-366-6889. ON THE NET Relay North Dakota: http://www.relaynorthdakota.com/ __________________

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