Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Phone tax that funds deaf services to rise slightly

CARSON CITY -- The state has reached an agreement to set the small telephone tax that funds phone services for up to 10,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing Nevadans.

The state Public Utilities Commission and Aging and Disability Services Division agreed Thursday on a 7 cent monthly levy on each telephone to finance the program.

The tax on a telephone was 8 cents a month but a large surplus was building so it was lowered to three cents a month. With the surplus gone, the charge will rise to 7 cents from Aug. 1 through June 30, 2013.

Todd Butterworth, director of Aging and Disability Services , said between 5,000 and 10,000 deaf and hard of hearing use this service each month. More than 18,000 calls were placed in December by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

More information is available at relaynevada.com.

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