Ark. House Approves Fee For Cell Phone Bills

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas House has voted to allow the state to charge cell phone users the same fee that is attached to landline phone bills to help pay for equipment to assist the hearing-impaired.

The House voted 71-25 on Thursday to allow the Public Service Commission to charge up to 3 cents per month to cell phone and landline phone users to support a fund that buys equipment to help the hearing-impaired communicate by telephone. A fee of 3 cents a month is currently charged to landline customers but not cell phone users.

Rep. Buddy Lovell said his proposal would help distribute the fee among all phone users. He said the PSC has indicated it will lower the fee to 1 cent per line if the legislation passes.