D.C. Proposed 2011 Budget Imposes an Increased E-911 Tax on All Cell Phones
When D.C. Family Budgets are Stretched to Their Limits, Why Does the District’s Proposed 2011 Budget Impose an Increased E-911 Tax on All D.C. Cell Phones?
D.C. Wireless Consumers ‘Say No’ to increased taxes and fees!
Wireless allows you to stay connected with family and friends, to do business on the go, or to get help in emergencies. About 1 million consumers in the District of Columbia benefit from a host of choices among features, phones and plans. So, why are D.C. city leaders again considering piling a costly tax increase on your wireless service?
The District’s proposed city budget for 2011 increases the current E-911 tax on cell and landline phone consumers, which is currently .76 cents, by another .39 cents to a combined total of $1.15 - a whopping 51% fee hike on all D.C. families and small businesses. To date, all D.C. consumers are paying just about the national average for monthly E-911, which is .75 cents. If passed, the new E-911 tax would make D.C. residents and businesses pay the 6th-highest monthly E-911 tax in the country! And overall, more than 16% of D.C. residents’ monthly cell phone bills include federal and local government taxes and fees.
More city taxes and fees on wireless would force even higher monthly costs on consumers, making the service less affordable and accessible for seniors, families, small businesses and students in this difficult economy. Besides the increase in cost, here is the problem. The Mayor’s proposed 2011 budget allows the District to impose a tax increase on the Emergency 9-1-1 portion (this fund already has a healthy revenue for the city) of your wireless service.
Wireless service needs to remain affordable and accessible to ALL
In these challenging economic times for all of us, now is not the time to take advantage of our dependence and daily reliance on cell phones by considering slapping consumers with even higher monthly taxes and fees. All in the name of benefitting E-911, but really only temporarily fixing a budget shortfall and pulling a city ‘out of the red.’ That’s bad news for you, and for our struggling economy. Elected officials in Washington, D.C., should be seeking to eliminate regressive taxes on all services to relieve consumers of excessive burdens, rather than expanding bad tax-and-spend policy to wireless service.
D.C. families and businesses need affordable and accessible wireless service to keep District residents connected, safe and prosperous. The proposed E-911 tax hike will only raise consumer costs, possibly stifle innovation, and threaten the freedom, mobility and safety we all enjoy with all our telecommunications services.
Now tell that to Mayor Fenty, and to the D.C. City Council. Make your voice heard today! Say ‘No’ to regressive new monthly E-911 taxes on D.C. wireless consumers, proposed in the city budget.
Already sent a letter to the Mayor and to your City Councilmember? You can still do more. Call their office now and leave your message, or send a personal email. Their office details are provided below.
Contact Information:
Vincent C. Gray, Council Chairman
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8032
David A. Catania, Councilmember (At-Large)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-7772
Phil Mendelson, Councilmember (At-Large)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8064
Kwame R. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8174
Michael A. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8105
Jim Graham, Councilmember (Ward 1)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8181
Jack Evans, Councilmember (Ward 2)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8058
Mary M. Cheh, Councilmember (Ward 3)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8062
Muriel Bowser, Councilmember (Ward 4)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8052
Harry Thomas, Jr., Councilmember (Ward 5)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8028
Tommy Wells, Councilmember (Ward 6)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8072
Yvette M. Alexander, Councilmember (Ward 7)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8068
Marion Barry, Councilmember (Ward 8)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tel: (202) 724-8045