FCC Seeks Comment on 911 Fee Preemption Petition for Lifeline Subscribers

Today, the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice requesting industry comment on a Petition filed by TracFone Wireless regarding 911 fees charged to Lifeline subscribers.  Specifically, the Petition asks the FCC to issue a declaratory ruling on an emergency basis stating that state laws and regulations that impose 911 taxes and fees on Lifeline subscribers who receive no-charge (i.e., non-billed) wireless Lifeline service funded exclusively by the federal Universal Service Fund violate federal law.   The Petition asks the FCC to preempt enforcement of such laws and regulations.

Comments in response to the Petition are due by December 8, 2014, and reply comments are due by December 23, 2014.