"The bill before me today is Introductory Number 218-A, sponsored at my request by Council Member Weprin. This bill adds a surcharge of $0.30 per month to the phone bills of New York City cellular phone customers. This additional E-911 wireless surcharge will be dedicated to funding emergency communication systems in the City of New York.

"In the recently adopted State Budget the New York State wireless E-911 surcharge was increased to from $0.70 per line per month to $1.20 per line per month. The revenue generated from this surcharge is dedicated to the operation of the New York State Police and the State's E-911 program. The State surcharge was increased this year in order to meet the growing needs of homeland security and communication. Like the State's E-911 program, the City's wireless phone surcharge will be dedicated to increasing public safety, with the revenues from the full $0.30 surcharge benefiting the citizens of New York City. This additional E-911 surcharge will greatly assist the City in funding the operation and maintenance of vital emergency communications systems for the people of our City.

"This increase in the E-911 wireless surcharge is one of a number of my Administration's proposals, passed by the City Council, to help provide much-needed assistance in closing the City's large budget gap. This bill will generate each year approximately $8 million in additional revenue for the City of New York."