Taxing Text Messages in California Soon

Posted by $ Abaco 7 years, 9 months ago to Government
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Just received from my brother in Nevada...
California wants to tax your text messages

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 10:45AM
The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote next month on a proposal to tax text messages.

State regulators say the money would be used to support programs that provide phone service to the poor.

It's unclear how much you'd have to pay per message.

The wireless industry and business groups are fighting the plan.

They say it could cost phone users an extra $44 million a year.

They also say the proposal is unfair because services like Facebook's Messenger and Apple's iMessage wouldn't be hit with the new fee.

(my editorial) Keep in mind that the PUC has no direct activity regarding text messages...they just want to tax them. They would have more justification to text my burps(sorry ladies...)

All Comments

  • Posted by Stormi 7 years, 9 months ago
    We already were taxed on our cell phone bill for services to the "poor", however that is defined. Seems the poor had more services than I did when I was still on a flip phone. All the poor I know, also had mroe cable options than we did. They don't just give them basics, they want moe and more - and they get it. Sick of providing for those who do not produce for themselves. Cancelled or not, the Calif. goofballs will come up with something equally stupid.
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  • Posted by ProfChuck 7 years, 9 months ago
    If wireless and internet providers are against the plan the simplest response would be to disconnect California from the wireless network and the internet. I think that would send an appropriate message.
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  • Posted by Eyecu2 7 years, 9 months ago
    If they do this I suggest that we outside of California send repetitive SPAM texts to the people stupid enough to vote for this. Allow them to carry the burden of the tax.
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  • Posted by calrho 7 years, 9 months ago
    In a rare display of common sense California dropped this proposal yesterday
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  • Posted by BCRinFremont 7 years, 9 months ago
    The geniuses in the CA legislature appear to have dropped this idea. Back to the $400 Billion per year single payer health system...
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  • Posted by evlwhtguy 7 years, 9 months ago
    They would tax the air if they could....Oh Wait....this is taxing the air!
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 9 months ago
    A win for Liberty and the freedom to text without tax!

    http://forliberty.news/2018/12/17/california-decides-not-tax-texting/
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  • Posted by mshupe 7 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Understanding the free market is irrelevant, its about power, and control, and looting America's economy and acquiring wealth for themselves.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 9 months ago
    If californians understood the free market they would refuse to text and just make a call.

    ...and, as always, it would adversely effect those that could least afford it.
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  • Posted by Solver 7 years, 9 months ago
    If you tax something you’ll get less of it, if you subsidize something you’ll get more of it.
    Less communication more poor.
    Sounds like regression to me.
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