Why is St. Clair County upset with Verizon?

The St. Clair County Emergency Telephone System Board is considering whether to sue a cellphone service provider for not returning surcharge money paid by customers back to the county.

St. Clair County has authorized its Emergency Telephone System Board to seek a potential lawsuit against Verizon Wireless.

Wireless telephone companies have to add a surcharge on all customers within St. Clair County to help pay for the 911 system.

According to a resolution passed by the County Board, “Verizon Wireless has allegedly failed to remit these fees to the St. Clair County Emergency Telephone System Board while continuing to charge the appropriate fees to their customers.”

The resolution also authorizes lawsuits against any other telecommunications providers who are not adhering to the Emergency Telephone System Act.

In an email to the BND, Verizon spokeswoman Meagan Dorsch said the “company does not comment on current or potential litigation.”

Herb Simmons, the director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, said the county’s ETSB is investigating whether to go forward with a lawsuit.

“There was some information that came to our attention that they have not been paying a surcharge to counties around the state,” Simmons said.

“I have not seen any checks come through from them,” Simmons added.

County officials did not have an estimate of how much money may be at stake. The current surcharge on cellphone bills is 87 cents per connection, according to the Illinois State Police.

This story was originally published August 8, 2016 at 7:13 AM with the headline "Why is St. Clair County upset with Verizon?."