Outcry against new cell phone surcharges - kotanow.com, KDUH, Scottsbluff, News, Weather and Sports

Nebraskans speak out against a new surcharge on prepaid cell phones and phone cards.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue announced yesterday that starting next year, customers will pay a 1.1%surcharge.

State lawmakers approved a law in April that requires retailers to collect the fee on behalf of prepaid phone companies. The surcharge pays for 911 service and technology to help the hearing impaired.

Norma Rodriguez works with many low - income individuals who rely on pre - paid phones. And she says this new tax will be especially hard on many of them.

"I've been in the situation where I've had to cut back," explains Rodriguez. "And so I think when you put yourself in that situation where you constantly have to take away from yourself- the little that you already have- it just sets you up for a little bit more of a struggle."

The new charge does not apply to users on a calling plan, who already pay it through their monthly bill.

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