Ch. 451                                        2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

PAYABLE AT THE TIME WHEN THE BILLS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE ARE DUE. A FEE
MAY NOT BE IMPOSED ON MORE THAN 50 CMRS EXCHANGE LINES PER CUSTOMER
BILLING ACCOUNT.

(III) THE 911 FEE MAY NOT BE ASSESSED AGAINST

INSTRUMENTALITIES OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE OR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.

(2) The Public Service Commission shall direct the telephone companies
to add the 911 fee to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access
service in the State. The telephone companies shall act as collection agents for the 911
Trust Fund with respect to the fee, and shall remit all proceeds to the Comptroller on
a monthly basis. The telephone companies shall be entitled to credit against the
proceeds of the 911 fee to be remitted an amount equal to 0.75 percent of the 911 fee
to cover the expenses of billing, collecting, and remitting the 911 fee and any
additional charges. The Comptroller shall deposit the funds in the 911 Trust Fund.

(3) The 911 service carriers shall add the 911 fee to all current bills
rendered for wireless telephone service or other 911 accessible service in the State.
The 911 service carriers shall act as collection agents for the 911 Trust Fund with
respect to the fee and shall remit all proceeds to the Comptroller on a monthly basis.
The 911 service carriers shall be entitled to credit against the proceeds of the 911 fee
to be remitted an amount equal to 0.75 percent of the 911 fee to cover the expenses of
billing, collecting, and remitting the 911 fee and any additional charges. The
Comptroller shall deposit the funds in the 911 Trust Fund.

(e) (1) THE BOARD MAY AUDIT OR REQUIRE A LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIER
OR CMRS PROVIDER TO SUBMIT AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF 911 FEES,
COLLECTIONS, AND REMITTANCES.

(2) In addition to the 911 fee imposed by subsection (b) of this section,
the governing body of each county may by ordinance or resolution after public hearing
enact or adopt an additional charge not to exceed 50 cents per month to be applied to
all current [bills rendered] SUBSCRIBER TELEPHONE NUMBERS for switched local
exchange access service[, wireless telephone service, or other 911 accessible service]
OR CMRS within that county. The amount of the additional charge may not exceed a
level necessary to cover the total amount of eligible operation and maintenance costs
of the county.

(2) The additional charge shall continue in effect until repealed or
modified by a subsequent ordinance or resolution.

(3) (i) Upon adopting, repealing, or modifying an additional charge,
the county shall certify the amount of the additional charge to the Public Service
Commission which on 60 days' notice shall direct the telephone companies to add the
full amount of the additional charge to all current bills rendered for switched local
exchange access service in each county which imposed that additional charge.

(ii) Within 60 days of the enactment of a county ordinance or
resolution that adopts, repeals, or modifies an additional charge, all 911 service
carriers providing service within that county shall add the full amount of the

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