Congress Finally Considers Cell Tax Relief

We have spent a good deal of time on this Blog highlighting the unfair tax treatment wireless users receive simply for reaping the benefits of the wireless revolution. For example, a typical consumer in the United States pays 15.19% in federal, state, and local taxes on their cell phone bill, compared to 7.07% for comparable taxable goods and services.

Well, Congress has begun to take notice and two bills were introduced that would provide wireless users some much needed relief from discriminatory taxes and fees. In April, Reps. Lofgren (D-CA) and Cannon (R-UT) introduced the Cell Tax Fairness Act (H.R. 5793) and, recently, Sens. Wyden (D., Ore.) and Snowe (R., Maine) introduced the Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act (S. 3249).

Although neither of these bills would affect current state and local wireless taxes, each places a 5-year moratorium on any new discriminatory wireless tax or fee. This will be a welcome change for consumers already burdened with high prices for other essential goods and services, such as food, gas and health care. A March survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that more and more Americans find it harder to live without a cell phone than any other form of communication. Reps. Lofgren and Cannon and Sens. Wyden and Snowe know that lowering the burdens of wireless taxes will help keep wireless affordable.

Check out MyWireless.org and find out what you can do to support H.R. 5793 or S. 3249.