disbursement of county's

E-911 fees

Special to The Journal

The Alabama Public Service Commission staff has begun an investigation requested by Commissioner Jan Cook into the collection and disbursement of E-911 fees by telephone companies operating in Crenshaw County.

Although the PSC has no jurisdiction over wireless companies, which also collect 911 fees, the agency's staff will examine all four landline companies operating in Crenshaw County to ensure that 911 frees collected there are properly designated for use within the Crenshaw County E-911 District.

&#8220Some of my constituents in Crenshaw County expressed concern that the 911 fees collected from them were being sent to Butler and Coffee counties,” Commissioner Cook said.

&#8220I have directed the PSC staff to investigate this, and we are going to make sure that all fees collected from Crenshaw County customers are designated for use by the Crenshaw County E-911 Board.”

Four telephone companies regulated by the PSC operate in Crenshaw County: CenturyTel, Mon-Cre Telephone Co., TDS Telecom and BellSouth (now AT&T).

Commissioner Cook said the PSC staff would examine each company's collection of 911 fees within the county.

&#8220The money collected from Crenshaw County residents is going to stay in Crenshaw County,” Cook said.