MyWireless.org 2009 Consumer Survey

April 03, 2009

America’s Wireless Consumers are Overwhelmingly Satisfied with their Service - Remain Opposed to Higher Wireless Taxes, Adding New Regulations

Las Vegas, NV - New consumer survey data released today by national consumer advocacy coalition MyWireless.org® shows that America’s cellphone consumers remain highly satisfied with their wireless service, are opposed to higher federal, state and local taxes, and believe proposals to add new regulations on their wireless service would raise prices and slow innovation.

Of the 1,000 cellphone users polled nationwide, the top findings include:

• 94% of American wireless consumers – that’s essentially 9 out of 10 consumers – are satisfied or very satisfied with their cellphone service.
• 85% agree that their cellphone “makes my life easier.”
• Combined, 90% think that the tax rate on their monthly wireless phone bill should be ‘lower,’ or ‘the same,’ as the tax rate they pay on general goods and services, which is approximately 6%. The actual average national tax rate is about 15%.
• 87% believe that all government taxes, fees and surcharges, at the state and city levels, should be clearly itemized on their monthly cellphone bills.
• 80% support Congress passing a 5-year freeze on wireless taxes, which would prohibit states and localities from adding unfair new taxes on wireless service.
• An overwhelming 83% agree that “companies competing for wireless customers give consumers enough choices so they can pick the wireless device, plan, options and content that best fits their needs.”
• 76% believe new government regulations would make cellphone service more expensive.
• 77% believe adding new government regulations on wireless service would either make their cellphone service worse or make no difference at all.
• 70% would support localities working with cellphone companies in a timely fashion – such as 2 to 3 months, a ‘shot clock’ approach – to decide whether wireless towers/antennas should be located in residential areas that need better coverage.

Brian Johnston, Director of Communications and Federal Advocacy for MyWireless.org, said, “These new polling numbers show that consumers feel stronger than ever about how vital wireless is in their lives, how satisfied they are with the choices they have and how a competitive market is providing them with outstanding products and services at a fair price. When it comes to taxes and fees, consumers say they already pay enough – or too much – on their monthly bills, and would support policies that prohibit new state and local wireless taxes, fees and surcharges.

“Consumers consider wireless an extremely good value and they believe adding more regulations would ultimately increase their service costs and delay innovation,” he continued. “Wireless is the service of choice of more than 270 million Americans as a daily convenience, an entertainment tool, a business device and an invaluable lifeline,” said Johnston.

McLaughlin & Associates, along with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, conducted this bi-partisan national survey of 1,000 adult wireless phone users who are likely voters via telephone on March 23-25, 2009.