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S. 123, Kari's Law Act of 2017 1 (February 14, 2017)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo3361 and id is 1 raw text is: 




                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
                             COST ESTIMATE

                                                                 February 14, 2017



                                     S. 123
                            Kari's  Law  Act  of 2017

As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
                               on January 24, 2017


S. 123 would require new telephone systems that have multiple lines to allow callers to
access 9-1-1 services directly, without needing to dial any other numbers or codes. This
requirement would apply to entities that manufacture, import, sell, lease, or install
multi-line telephone systems, beginning two years after the date of enactment. Phones
installed before that effective date would not have to be changed if the upgrade would
require any improvement to the telephone system.

CBO  estimates that implementing S. 123 would have no significant effect on federal
spending for telecommunications services or regulatory activities. Pay-as-you-go
procedures apply because the bill could affect direct spending by the Postal Service,
federal power agencies, and federal financial regulators, as well as revenues remitted by
the Federal Reserve; however, CBO estimates that any such costs would be negligible.
CBO  estimates that enacting S. 123 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget
deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

According to a 2016 report by the General Services Administration, federal phone systems
serve about 4 million employees. Based on information from telecommunications service
providers and federal agencies, CBO estimates that most of the government's multi-line
phones (excluding those with national security protections) already are capable of dialing
9-1-1 services directly. Because upgrading the remaining phones would involve
improvements  that qualify for the exemption in S. 123, CBO expects that any costs to
upgrade federal telephone systems would not be significant.

On the basis of on an analysis of information from the Federal Communications
Commission  (FCC), CBO  estimates that implementing S. 123 would increase the costs of
the FCC's regulatory and enforcement programs by less than $500,000. However, under
current law, the FCC is authorized to collect fees sufficient to offset the costs of its
regulatory activities each year; therefore, CBO estimates that the net effect on
discretionary spending for the FCC would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions
consistent with that authority.

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