CALGARY- The new proposal for Alberta’s 911 service has left a lot of consumers scratching their heads, confused about a proposed fee many thought they already paid.
On Thursday, municipal affairs minister Doug Griffiths announced a $0.44 per month charge for cell phone users, which would go towards funding and upgrading emergency call centres. Those with home and businesses phones already pay the fee.
However, many cell phone users complained they are already paying a $0.75 emergency access fee every month.
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Those fees actually go to cellular companies like Rogers and Telus to upgrade networks so people can call 911 from anywhere.
“There is a 911 fee that cell phone companies used to charge on their customers phone bills but it was never a source of funding that went to 911 call centers,” explained Griffiths. “It was to build more cell towers to enhance the 911 call system, but it never went to 911 call centers like landline fees do.”
It turns out that not every cell customer pays the $0.75 access charge. It only affects customers who signed contracts before October 2009, which is when companies stopped the access fee.
Griffiths said he would like to see all companies drop the charge when the new provincial fee goes into effect.
With files from Tony Tighe
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