CTIA Commends Introduction of Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2009

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act (S.1192). The bill is similar to the Cell Tax Fairness Act (H.R. 1521), which has attracted substantial, bipartisan support in the U.S. House. Below is the statement I issued today in response to the introduction of the Senate bill:

Senators Wyden and Snowe have shown their support for wireless consumers across America by sponsoring the Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2009. On behalf of the more than 270 million U.S. wireless subscribers, we thank them for their leadership and commitment to easing the costly and discriminatory tax burden imposed on wireless services.

It is very troubling that wireless consumers have been taxed four times more than other taxable goods and services over an almost four-year period. The Wyden-Snowe bill will protect consumers from new discriminatory taxes and fees while preserving existing revenue for states and localities.

We look forward to working with Members of Congress on both sides of the Capitol to get this pro-consumer legislation passed this year.