ORLANDO, Fla. – Domestic violence survivors will get help from cell phone companies under new rules the federal government approved Wednesday.
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the new rules, part of the Safe Connections Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2022.
The rules require cell phone companies to remove a person from family billing plans within two days of requesting it. They also require companies to offer low-cost emergency phone replacements for victims, and require the cloaking of call and text logs to domestic violence shelters and hotlines.
“Our phone number, with the help of everybody, it’s everywhere, and it should be it is a lifeline,” Harbor House CEO, Michelle Sperzel said. “But at the same point in time, if someone is looking to see who you call, and that’s very easy to be able to pull up someone’s call log and look either on their phone or by going to check out the bill, they’re going to just they will call Harbor House and they can the first name advocates say is, are you safe? So for an abuser, it’s not going to take too much for them to figure out that they’ve called to try and help and find resources.”
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, financial abuse exists in 98% of relationships where there is domestic violence. Cell phones are often used as tools of control and manipulation by abusers.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
The group says a new phone and wireless plan can represent a first step forward for domestic violence survivors.
“I am really excited when I was reading about it because it is a big game changer,” Sperzel said. “It’s hard enough, you know, if you’re not in a domestic violence situation to get your cell phone plan changed. If you break up with somebody, if you change your family plan, something of that nature or even to move to another carrier. And so, it’s even more difficult when you’re a survivor of domestic violence and you’re in it and you are really still with the abuser.”
Cell phone carriers will be required to comply with the line separations and emergency support rules by the summer of 2024. Most providers will be required to have the tools in place to omit records of calls or texts to domestic violence hotlines by late 2024, according to the FCC.
If you need help getting out of an abusive situation, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788. You can also go to the hotline website and chat with a representative.
You can also find domestic violence shelters in almost every Central Florida county:
BREVARD
Serene Harbor: 321-726-8282
Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program: 321-631-2764
FLAGLER
Family Life Center: 386-437-3505
LAKE
Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties: 352-753-5800
ORANGE
Harbor House of Central Florida: 407-886-2856
OSCEOLA
Help Now of Osceola: 407-847-8562
POLK
Peace River Center: 863-386-1167
SEMINOLE
SafeHouse of Seminole County: 407-330-3933
SUMTER
Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties: 352-753-5800
VOLUSIA
Beacon Center: 386-257-2297
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: