Arkansas House approves cell phone fee

— The Arkansas House has given final approval 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.

By a 90-0 vote, the House agreed to a Senate amendment on legislation allowing the Public Service Commission to charge up to 2 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, the bill's sponsor, said the PSC has indicated it will lower the fee to 1 cent if the legislation becomes law.

The measure now heads to Gov. Mike Beebe's desk.

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