FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National wireless consumer coalition MyWireless.org® today lauded the leadership of Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Thune (R-SD), after the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider the implications of tax reform, and how it relates to state and local tax and fiscal policy. Pro-consumer wireless tax bills S. 543, the ‘Wireless Tax Fairness Act,’ and S. 971, the ‘Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act,’ featured prominently in the Senators’ discussion of tax reform before the committee. After today’s discussion by the committee these overwhelmingly bipartisan bills now await consideration by the full Senate.

Wyden-Snowe, S. 543, calls for a 5-year break, or moratorium, from all new, discriminatory state and local wireless taxes being placed on wireless consumers. On average, the American wireless consumer now pays more than 16% on every monthly bill in combined government taxes, fees and surcharges – more than double the average sales tax paid on other general goods and services. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has determined that the ‘Wireless Tax Fairness Act’ will impose no cost to state, local or tribal governments. The Lofgren-Franks companion bill, H.R. 1002, was unanimously approved by voice vote in the House on November 1st of last year.

Wyden-Thune, S. 971, would place a fair, responsible framework around the taxation of purchases of digital commerce – goods and services such as apps, ringtones, e-books, music and videos, as well as streaming, downloading and cloud services – which are currently faced with potentially multiple jurisdictional taxation based upon interstate commerce over the course of the transaction. The bill would ensure that a consumer is taxed only one time (where the wireless device is registered, and where the consumer’s monthly bill is received) for their digital purchase. An identical Reps Smith-Cohen companion bill (H.R. 1860) is currently before the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

Brian Johnston, director of advocacy for MyWireless.org, said, “Today’s committee proceedings were a shining example in a dead-locked Washington of pro-taxpayer, pro-consumer, and completely bipartisan compromise across the aisle. The ‘Wireless Tax Fairness Act’ is a positive illustration of leadership from both parties coming together to support sensible wireless tax relief for hundreds of millions of American consumers. The ‘Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act’ shows that Senators clearly understand the fairness of consumers being taxed once when they purchase a digital good, particularly in this mobile day and age.” Johnston continued, “We appreciate the Senate Finance Committee’s standing up and defending wireless users across this country from more unfair, new state and local wireless taxation. We look forward to working with Senate Majority Leader Reid, Majority Whip Durbin, Minority Leader McConnell and Minority Whip Kyl to move these popular bills forward soon for a vote on the Senate floor.”

In these uncertain economic times of recovery, MyWireless.org calls on the Senate, and Congress as a whole, to give American wireless users a break from excessive taxes on communicating by supporting these simple measures of tax relief. On behalf of more than 300 million American wireless consumers, MyWireless.org today expresses thanks to the timely leadership shown by the Chairman and Ranking Member, to each of the original sponsors of the bills, and to the committee members themselves for holding this important state and local tax reform hearing, where these important bills could be heard.

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MyWireless.org® is a national nonpartisan non-profit advocacy organization, made up of wireless consumers, businesses and community leaders from around the country, supporting reasonable pro-consumer and pro-taxpayer wireless policies.

Media Contact:

Brian Johnston
202-736-2980

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
PRESS CONTACT: Brian Johnston, (202) 736-2980

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Americans complete the annual labor of filing their federal and state income tax returns and plan appropriately for the remainder of 2012, national advocacy organization MyWireless.org®reg; reminds the United States Congress that it can provide consumers with much-needed and deserved relief from discriminatory state and local taxes & fees on wireless service, and also against multiple tax hits on digital purchases. Specifically, MyWireless.org supports the passage of two critical pieces of legislation before the Congress adjourns this year, the “Wireless Tax Fairness Act” and the “Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act.”

“Now that we all have stepped up to our obligations, it’s time for Congress to step up to theirs and establish a fair and sensible tax structure for wireless consumers,” says Brian Johnston, director of advocacy for MyWireless.org. “The more than 300 million Americans using wireless technology today are being subjected to an outdated tax system that has them paying wireless taxes that are well more than their fair share, and puts them at risk of being unfairly taxed multiple times for the same digital purchase.”

Johnston continued, “Passing the Wireless Tax Fairness Act is a reasonable first step toward taking an unfair burden off the backs of U.S. wireless consumers. It’s a five-year time-out from having state and local governments continually piling on wireless-only taxes and fees, and would set the stage for a serious discussion about creating a tax system that reflects the realities of today’s communications landscape. Wireless technology is playing an increasingly helpful and important role in our personal and professional lives, and we shouldn’t be penalized for that by paying at levels that can be up to four times higher than the taxes we pay for general goods and services.”

The Wireless Tax Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate (S. 543) by Sens Wyden (D-OR) and Snowe (R-ME), and in the House (H.R. 1002) by Reps Lofgren (D-CA) and Franks (R-AZ). The legislation calls for a 5-year moratorium to be placed on any new and discriminatory wireless taxes & fees at the state and local levels. The bill is currently being considered before the Senate Finance Committee, and after being scored at zero significant additional cost to any level of government, was passed by a unanimous voice vote in the House on November 1st of last year. The measure is strongly bipartisan, and gained 236 co-sponsors on the House side, while garnering 18 co-sponsors on the identical Senate companion bill.

The other legislation MyWireless.org is urging Congress to pass, the Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act, was introduced in the Senate (S. 971) by Sens Wyden and Thune (R-SD), and in the House (H.R. 1860) by Reps Smith (R-TX) and Cohen (D-TN).

That legislation seeks to prohibit a state or local jurisdiction from imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on the sale or use of digital goods or services that are purchased with wireless, delivered or transferred electronically to a consumer. The bill would promote a framework, looking for simplicity and fairness in the taxation of these digital goods and services, ensuring a consumer is only taxed one time for their purchase & by the local jurisdiction where their device is registered, where their monthly wireless bill is received, and where they pay state and/or local sales tax. These measures are also strongly supported and bipartisan, with 16 co-sponsors in the House, and 3 co-sponsors in the Senate.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for the leadership and the efforts of Senators Wyden, Snowe and Thune, and Representatives Lofgren, Franks, Smith and Cohen, as well as all of the co-sponsors of these important bills. We feel there is no better time to highlight their pro-consumer work than right now with Tax Week here in America. It’s high time we take a breather from wireless taxes and fees spiraling ever higher, that we protect consumers from multiple and discriminatory tax hits for their purchases, and that our elected officials really take this time-out period to study new and emerging technology’s usage within our society,” Johnston continued. “We urge Senate Finance Chairman Baucus to consider both pieces of legislation in an upcoming ‘Tax Reform – State and Local Fiscal Policy’ hearing, and to help hundreds of millions of consumers by finally taking these outdated tax laws off the books.”

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MyWireless.org® is a national nonpartisan non-profit advocacy organization, made up of wireless consumers, businesses and community leaders from around the country, supporting reasonable pro-consumer wireless policies. To learn more, please visit www.mywireless.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
PRESS CONTACT: Brian Johnston, (202) 736-2980

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Americans complete the annual labor of filing their federal and state income tax returns and plan appropriately for the remainder of 2012, national advocacy organization MyWireless.org®reg; reminds the United States Congress that it can provide consumers with much-needed and deserved relief from discriminatory state and local taxes & fees on wireless service, and also against multiple tax hits on digital purchases. Specifically, MyWireless.org supports the passage of two critical pieces of legislation before the Congress adjourns this year, the “Wireless Tax Fairness Act” and the “Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act.”

“Now that we all have stepped up to our obligations, it’s time for Congress to step up to theirs and establish a fair and sensible tax structure for wireless consumers,” says Brian Johnston, director of advocacy for MyWireless.org. “The more than 300 million Americans using wireless technology today are being subjected to an outdated tax system that has them paying wireless taxes that are well more than their fair share, and puts them at risk of being unfairly taxed multiple times for the same digital purchase.”

Johnston continued, “Passing the Wireless Tax Fairness Act is a reasonable first step toward taking an unfair burden off the backs of U.S. wireless consumers. It’s a five-year time-out from having state and local governments continually piling on wireless-only taxes and fees, and would set the stage for a serious discussion about creating a tax system that reflects the realities of today’s communications landscape. Wireless technology is playing an increasingly helpful and important role in our personal and professional lives, and we shouldn’t be penalized for that by paying at levels that can be up to four times higher than the taxes we pay for general goods and services.”

The Wireless Tax Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate (S. 543) by Sens Wyden (D-OR) and Snowe (R-ME), and in the House (H.R. 1002) by Reps Lofgren (D-CA) and Franks (R-AZ). The legislation calls for a 5-year moratorium to be placed on any new and discriminatory wireless taxes & fees at the state and local levels. The bill is currently being considered before the Senate Finance Committee, and after being scored at zero significant additional cost to any level of government, was passed by a unanimous voice vote in the House on November 1st of last year. The measure is strongly bipartisan, and gained 236 co-sponsors on the House side, while garnering 18 co-sponsors on the identical Senate companion bill.

The other legislation MyWireless.org is urging Congress to pass, the Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act, was introduced in the Senate (S. 971) by Sens Wyden and Thune (R-SD), and in the House (H.R. 1860) by Reps Smith (R-TX) and Cohen (D-TN).

That legislation seeks to prohibit a state or local jurisdiction from imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on the sale or use of digital goods or services that are purchased with wireless, delivered or transferred electronically to a consumer. The bill would promote a framework, looking for simplicity and fairness in the taxation of these digital goods and services, ensuring a consumer is only taxed one time for their purchase & by the local jurisdiction where their device is registered, where their monthly wireless bill is received, and where they pay state and/or local sales tax. These measures are also strongly supported and bipartisan, with 16 co-sponsors in the House, and 3 co-sponsors in the Senate.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for the leadership and the efforts of Senators Wyden, Snowe and Thune, and Representatives Lofgren, Franks, Smith and Cohen, as well as all of the co-sponsors of these important bills. We feel there is no better time to highlight their pro-consumer work than right now with Tax Week here in America. It’s high time we take a breather from wireless taxes and fees spiraling ever higher, that we protect consumers from multiple and discriminatory tax hits for their purchases, and that our elected officials really take this time-out period to study new and emerging technology’s usage within our society,” Johnston continued. “We urge Senate Finance Chairman Baucus to consider both pieces of legislation in an upcoming ‘Tax Reform – State and Local Fiscal Policy’ hearing, and to help hundreds of millions of consumers by finally taking these outdated tax laws off the books.”

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MyWireless.org® is a national nonpartisan non-profit advocacy organization, made up of wireless consumers, businesses and community leaders from around the country, supporting reasonable pro-consumer wireless policies. To learn more, please visit www.mywireless.org.

New bi-partisan poll finds Washingtonians also believe they already pay too much in taxes and fees for wireless services, and they want to prevent new tax increases.

Olympia, WA – An overwhelming majority of Washingtonians oppose their county being able to add a new 6% local utility tax on wireless services, according to the results of a new bi-partisan statewide survey released today by non-profit consumer advocacy group MyWireless.org®.

Legislation (HB 2728/SB 6521) has been introduced in Olympia in both chambers of the state legislature that would allow counties to levy a 6% local utility tax each month on some wireless consumers (dependent upon where they live) in the state. Nearly 4 in 5 surveyed (79%) oppose the proposed tax hike, and two-thirds surveyed (66%) “strongly” oppose it. This opposition to the proposal is widespread – consensus exists across all voter groups regardless of political affiliation and demographics.

Of the 400 Washington cellphone users and likely voters polled statewide, top findings include:

• By greater than a 6 to 1 ratio (79% to 11%), an overwhelming majority oppose their county adding a new 6% local utility tax to wireless phone service. Two-thirds (66%) of those “strongly” oppose the proposed new tax.
• Even among likely voters who don’t have a wireless phone, the majority oppose this tax (56% to 17%).
• The majority (51%) of wireless phone consumers in Washington believe they pay “too much” in taxes and fees on their wireless phone bills. About one-quarter (23%) say they pay “about the right amount.” Only (1%) think they don’t pay enough and (25%) don’t know.

“Many Washingtonians already pay the second-highest monthly wireless tax and fee rate in the country, and this new survey data clearly shows that wireless consumers in the Apple State think that any more increases are rotten to the core,” said Brian Johnston, Director of Advocacy for MyWireless.org. “In some cities, customers pay nearly 18% in combined state and local taxes and fees, and it’s nearly 23% when federal taxes and fees are included – all just to communicate. It’s almost impossible to understand why the legislature wants to make these enormously unfair taxes and fees even higher, particularly in these times of economic recovery, and discourage people from using a service that gives them incomparable mobile broadband access that improves their personal and professional lives in so many extraordinary ways.”

“We realize that the state of Washington is facing a significant budget shortfall, and we are empathetic to tough decisions being made in Olympia. But it is unfair and discriminatory to place such a large portion of revenue-raising on the backs of many of the more than 6 million hard-working Washington wireless consumers, their families, and their businesses,” continued Johnston. “I think the research shows that Washington wireless consumers would be even more opposed to this kind of additional tax-and-fee burden if they were made more aware of the degree to which they are already assessed these high costs. Everyone is being forced to tighten their belts a little bit right now, and our polling tells us Washingtonian wireless users are saying enough is enough.”

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MyWireless.org® is a non-partisan non-profit national advocacy organization, made up of wireless consumers, businesses and community leaders from around the country, supporting reasonable pro-consumer and pro-taxpayer wireless policies. MyWireless.org commissioned McLaughlin & Associates to partner with Penn Schoen Berland to develop and conduct a bi-partisan survey in Washington among 400 likely general election voters. The survey was conducted on February 15-16, 2012. The accuracy of the sample of 400 likely general election voters is within +/- 4.9% at a 95% confidence interval.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 23, 2012

PRESS CONTACT: Brian Johnston, (202) 736-2980