“Consumers would greatly benefit from public policies that end high and discriminatory rates on wireless telecommunications services,” according to American Consumer Institute President Stephen Pociask. “For years, states and local governments have been levying higher and higher taxes on wireless services to the detriment of consumers, so much so that the national average of combined federal, state and local taxes is at an astonishing 16%, including several states with rates over 20%. These taxes disproportionately harm young consumers and those with lower incomes who rely on wireless services as primary means to communicate with friends and relatives, call for emergency services and even browse the Internet for jobs. Steps to freeze these harmful and discriminatory taxes for five years would bring much needed relief to consumers and prevent further tax increases from being tacked on to wireless bills.”
