Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is MyWireless.org?MyWireless.org is a non-profit grassroots advocacy organization that gives wireless consumers a unified and powerful voice to speak out against unfair and excessive taxes and regulations that limit consumer choices, raise the costs of wireless services and threaten to slow wireless innovation. MyWireless.org helps educate consumers about important wireless issues, updates them on the latest wireless developments, and provides the tools they need to fight unnecessary taxes and regulations on wireless services in their city and state, as well as nationally.
Q: Where is MyWireless.org active?
On behalf of consumers, MyWireless.org has actively fought against wireless taxes and regulations in several states, including California, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Louisiana. Visit www.MyWireless.org/hotstateissues to see what’s happening in these and other states.
Q: Does MyWireless.org just represent the wireless industry?
MyWireless.org is a non-profit advocacy organization founded to educate and mobilize wireless consumers – more than 260 million of them nationwide. Before MyWireless.org, these millions of wireless consumers did not have a central place to go to get information and to take action on wireless issues that affect them. MyWireless.org helps provide individual wireless consumers with a unified and powerful voice to protect their wireless services from unnecessary and costly taxes and regulations. MyWireless.org has the support of wireless companies because it empowers wireless consumers to make their voices heard on important issues like keeping taxes low, minimizing regulatory costs and hassles, protecting consumer choices, and preventing hurdles to new and innovative wireless products and services.
Q: What other organizations are part of the MyWireless.org coalition?
MyWireless.org is a diverse and broad-based coalition, including the National Black Chamber of Commerce, USA Next (national seniors association), the Telework Coalition, National Taxpayers Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Each coalition partner is committed to educating and mobilizing wireless consumers in their cities, states and nationwide, and giving them a unified, collective voice to influence policies that affect them. Please visit www.MyWireless.org/coalition for a full list of MyWireless.org coalition partners.
Q: Why is there a need for consumer advocacy in wireless?
Especially at the state and local level, efforts to increase wireless taxes and regulations are spiraling out of control. In 2005, more than 1,200 bills were introduced to add wireless taxes or regulations at the state or local level. However, most of the time, consumers are not even aware of these proposed taxes and regulations, which greatly affect their wireless service. Research also shows that the tax rate on wireless services increased nine times faster than other goods and services (January 2003 – April 2004). In some areas, wireless taxes exceed “sin taxes,” which are meant to prevent consumers from using certain products. MyWireless.org is dedicated to educating and mobilizing wireless users on these proposals and giving them the tools to directly communicate with policymakers.
Q: What issues does MyWireless.org address?
MyWireless.org addresses a range of issues that affect the affordability and accessibility of wireless services for more than 260 million wireless consumers. MyWireless.org has fought back state and local wireless taxes in Missouri, Louisiana, Oregon and Texas. In addition, MyWireless.org is fighting to protect consumers from complicated and costly wireless regulations in California, New York and Massachusetts.
Q: What wireless companies are supporting MyWireless.org?
Independent research shows that customers are fed up with the government piling new taxes and fees onto their wireless services – and wireless companies are realizing it too. So, all of the national wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers are supporting MyWireless.org, as well as many regional carriers, application providers and other wireless-related businesses. Wireless is a very competitive industry, so these companies want to make sure that unnecessary taxes and regulations don’t prevent them from providing their customers with low prices, new products and services, and network improvements.
Q: Who funds MyWireless.org?
Member companies of CTIA-The Wireless Association® launched MyWireless.org to empower wireless consumers to fight government taxes and regulations that raise their prices, limit their choices and slow innovations that benefit them. As a 501(c)(4), MyWireless.org is an independent non-profit organization whose charter is to educate and empower consumers.
Q: Are there any costs for consumers to join or support MyWireless.org?
No. MyWireless.org is free for consumers – it’s free to register, free to sign up for newsletters and free to send communications to key policymakers.
Q: If consumers register at www.MyWireless.org, will their information be sold or shared with wireless companies?
No. MyWireless.org has a very strict privacy policy. Consumer information will not be shared or sold to anyone. No exceptions. Please see www.MyWireless.org/privacypolicy for all the details.
