The Public Utility Commission has reauthorized Schuylkill County's telephone surcharge, a $1.25 monthly tax on each landline that helps fund the county's 911 center.

County 911 director Scott Krater said the reauthorization is routine, and that the tax cannot go higher than $1.25 because of the size of the county.The county submits its 911 center information to the PUC every three years to qualify for the reauthorization.The county's 911 service area has a population of approximately 148,289.The county is served by Verizon Pennsylvania, Verizon North LLC, Commonwealth Telephone Company (Frontier Communications Commonwealth Telephone Company), Frontier Communications of Lakewood, Windstream Pennsylvania, Mahanoy & Mahantongo Telephone Company, and various competitive local exchange carriers, according to the PUC.In addition to the landline tax, a $1 tax on cell phones and voice-over IP phone services, plus a one-time tax on the purchase of disposable phones and phone cards via the 1990 Public Safety and Emergency Telephone Act, helps support 911 centers.The Schuylkill center's budget is about $5 million. Of that, the county contributes about half, or $2.5 million, for the center's operating budget.