I'm Feeling Taxed

Just came from the tax policy panel.  A few thoughts:

1) The fact that wireless tax rates average more than twice the average tax rate of other goods and services is simply unfair to the 255+ million American wireless consumers.

2) Wireless taxes are regressive.  That means that they affect lower-income users more than they affect those who are better-off.  What it also means is that these taxes disproportionately discourage wireless use by those that stand the most to benefit from them.

3) There is something of a disconnect between the wishes of some state governments to see wireless broadband build-out in their respective states and the necessary tax incentives/ removal of disincentives that would encourage such build out. If states’ are really serious about promoting the continued deployment of next-generation networks, their tax code should reflect that priority.

4) State tax codes are old – they were developed for the manufacturing economy of the early 20th century.  States should revamp their tax systems in order to acknowledge the shift to this new, information economy. In doing that, they would promote the well-being of these new 21rst century businesses as well encouraging their proliferation. 

That’s it from me for the day – see you all tomorrow for Day 3.