California regulators will consider implementing a tax on texting

[Polycount]

State governments are always looking for ways to fund their various local projects, and California's latest idea is a metaphorical goldmine in that regard.

Courtesy of a USA Today report, we now know that California's Public Utilities Commission is considering enacting a tax on text messages.

This isn't coming completely out of the blue, though. Apparently, California is determining whether or not such a tax would comply with much older federal rules; the Public Purpose Programs (PPP) legislation that goes back to the 1930s, to be specific. The PPP allows states to impose taxes on communications services in order to subsidize them for low-income citizens.

Naturally, the telecommunications industry is not too happy with California's ideas. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) issued the following statement in a legal filing to the Public Utilities Commission:

Subjecting wireless carriers’ text messaging traffic to surcharges that cannot be applied to the lion’s share of messaging traffic and messaging providers is illogical, anticompetitive and harmful to consumers.

In other words, the CTIA feels that a texting tax would be unfair, given that other communications services which rely on Wifi (such as Facebook Messenger, Telegram, or even Discord) to function would not be hit with similar fees.

For better or worse, California's regulators will vote on the matter sometime in January. Whether you're for or against the idea of a texting tax, one thing is certain: This is shaping up to be one of the most controversial proposals California has considered in quite some time - a quick glance at your social media feed of choice should provide ample evidence of that.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/77855-california-regulators-consider-implementing-texting-tax-january.html

 

[m4a4]

Can't say I'm surprised that California is the one to consider this...

 

[toooooot]

Where is a ban cords and wires covered wit rubberized plastic that cause cancer in state of CA? I have been waiting for it forever. How long till California will free me from all this cancer? When will it be replaced with something safe, like bird feathers? You disappoint me Cali, again.

 

[cliffordcooley]

California regulators will consider implementing a tax on texting

I'm surprised they have not considered implementing a tax on talking (aka: noise pollution).

 

[ckm88]

Is this a joke, California? Like no wonder everyone moving East lulz.

 

[Hexic]

Despite the rest of the country pointing and laughing at you for decades now, you continue to one-up your last "achievement", Cali.

Keep up the.... Work!

 

[cliffordcooley]

California thinks we look up to them. But in reality the only reason we look is for the laughs.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Hmmm, taxes are usually assessed as a percentage.
Texting is not charged by ISPs.
Enjoy your n percentage of 0.

 

[jason lee]

This is what you get when you elect officials on the extreme liberal side.

 

[cliffordcooley]

This is what you get when you elect officials that think all freedoms should be taken away.

 

[seeprime]

Where is a ban cords and wires covered wit rubberized plastic that cause cancer in state of CA? I have been waiting for it forever. How long till California will free me from all this cancer? When will it be replaced with something safe, like bird feathers? You disappoint me Cali, again.

Bird feathers are known to cause allergies, to the state of California.

 

[treetops]

If so smart people will use apps to text instead over their data. Letters take very very little data.

 

[seeprime]

Everyone would begin using VPN to send text messages. Good luck with your tax collection California.

 

[Uncle Al]

You know, there was a movement by the US Post Office to start charging for eMail's because of their "loss of revenue" but it never made it past the first two weeks. This one is ripe for 1st Amendment violation by attempting to tax or charge for free speech. It's won't go far and the 9th Circuit court will nip it in the bud.

 

[cliffordcooley]

This one is ripe for 1st Amendment violation by attempting to tax or charge for free speech.

Unless they only charge specific context or topics, I don't see where that would be the case.

 

[Paulos7]

"If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet"

 

[captaincranky]

"If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet"

I'm pretty sure that's George Harrison from "Taxman". How about if we give credit where credit is due?

Taxman
The Beatles
Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you…

 

[cliffordcooley]

How about if we give credit where credit is due?

Apple will sue for patent infringement.

 

[Ean Mogg]

Lets TAX Breathing or Smiling or Farting better still Blinking ...lol

 

[cliffordcooley]

Ohh farting is not allowed without the use of a California approved catalytic convertor.

 

[Reachable]

.....and then it generated the usual hysteria.

It doesn't matter whether text messages are also sent over apps. You're not taxing the activity, you're surcharging the charge. You can also talk over apps.

 

[captaincranky]

Ohh farting is not allowed without the use of a California approved catalytic convertor.

Farting is protected under the 1st amendment 's provision of "freedom of speech".

If you had to fart through a catalytic converter, all the poetry, inner meaning, mental turmoil, depth of emotion, and subtle nuances of thought of so many great minds, would be lost.forever.

 

[madboyv1]

California regulators will consider implementing a tax on texting

I'm surprised they have not considered implementing a tax on talking (aka: noise pollution).

But then the regulators would be subjected to that tax, and that simply won't do.

 

[mbrowne5061]

Hmmm, taxes are usually assessed as a percentage.
Texting is not charged by ISPs.
Enjoy your n percentage of 0.

Only income, revenue, or asset taxes are percent-based. Nearly every other tax is a flat-fee per-unit. Expect to see this as a some fraction of a cent per message levied on the carriers. Carriers will then either eliminate unlimited texting so they can transfer that tax directly, or levy a new 'monthly texting fee' on customers that will more than cover the taxes in most case (giving them yet another thing they can profit from)

 

[Paulos7]

I'm pretty sure that's George Harrison from "Taxman". How about if we give credit where credit is due?

https://www.google.com/search?clien...2ahUKEwitp4H42p7fAhWHq1kKHR8OB7IQMTAAegQIBhAF

That's why I put it in quotes. That way people who were interested could search the quote and find the relevance without me having to post the whole song. George was right.