HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward Rendell has signed legislation that would amends the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act to require that VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone service providers charge a $1 fee on each service line. The money will be placed in a fund in the state treasury and disbursed to counties to fund 911 call centers.

In May 2005, the FCC issued an order requiring interconnected VoIP companies to provide customers with E-911 service. Many of these companies already collect fees for providing 911 services to customers.