Testimony from Congressional Hearing Weighs in Favor of Cell Tax Fairness Legislation

September 18, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC – The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent issued the following statement today in response to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing on the “Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2008”(H.R. 5793): 

“The testimony during today’s hearing was telling—taking a break on new discriminatory state and local wireless taxes is long overdue.  American consumers deserve better than being burdened with unreasonable rates of wireless taxes and fees on their monthly bills.
 
“In just over a week, 51 more Members from both sides of the aisle have added their support to this pro-consumer legislation, increasing the current total to 130 cosponsors.  It's extremely gratifying to see the tremendous bipartisan support that H.R. 5793 has attracted.  Congress is moving ahead in the right direction to ease the tax burden on wireless consumers.    
 
"Nationally, wireless consumers pay an average of 15.2% in state, local and federal taxes and fees.  Last year, consumers paid nearly $21 billion to state, local, and the federal government in wireless taxes. To continue to impose such a regressive consumption tax disproportionately hits low and middle income Americans who can least afford to pay, but rely on wireless services the most.

“I applaud Subcommittee Chairman Linda Sanchez (D-CA)  for holding today's hearing, along with Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) who sponsored this  bi-partisan bill for their diligent work and commitment to ease the tax burden on America’s wireless users.  We look forward to continue working with the Committee and all Members of Congress to ensure speedy passage of this important legislation.” 

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CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry,
representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers.
www.ctia.org