Press Release
87% of Florida Voters Support Reducing Unfair State Communications Services Tax
Tallahassee, Fla. - A new poll released today by consumer advocacy group MyWireless.org shows that 87% of Florida voters support a reduction of 1.17% in the state’s “Communications Services Tax” (CST) from its current 9.17% level.
“Florida currently has the third highest wireless tax rate in the nation,” said Kimberly Kuo, Executive Director of MyWireless.org. “There is no better time than the present to start relieving millions of Floridians of excessive taxes on communicating. Reducing this tax to 8% would save Florida consumers about $185 million in the first year alone. As is, the CST is an especially hefty burden for Florida’s working families, small businesses, seniors and others on fixed incomes. Communications services should be affordable and accessible for all Floridians,” Kuo said.
“We’re seeing good momentum for a good consumer outcome. The CST reduction was included in Speaker Marco Rubio’s ‘100 Ideas for Florida’s Future’ and legislation has been introduced in both the State House and Senate. Governor Charlie Crist incorporated a Florida CST rate reduction in his annual budget, as well,” Kuo added.
House Bill 567 and Senate Bill 980 will be considered in the upcoming Florida Legislative Session, each proposing a CST reduction from 9.17% down to 8%. The reduction would benefit customers of a broad array of communications services, including Florida’s 13 million wireless customers.
The bi-partisan poll – commissioned by MyWireless.org and conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, and Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates – surveyed 800 likely voters in Florida via phone between January 22-24, 2007.
MyWireless.org has joined together in a diverse coalition of Florida businesses and consumers to support legislation to reduce the 9.17% CST in the state. To learn more about MyWireless.org or to join the coalition’s efforts to reduce Florida’s Communications Services Tax, please visit www.MyWireless.org.