MyWireless.org® Survey Shows Consumers Satisfied with Service, Skeptical of Regulation

Results Exposed Significant Lack of Awareness of High Wireless Tax Rates

NEW ORLEANS, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A national survey of wireless consumers shows they are extremely satisfied  with service providers, strongly believe that wireless companies are providing users with a wide range of choices of wireless devices and service plans, and are surprisingly unaware of the average rate in taxes and fees they're paying on their wireless bills. The annual Wireless Consumer Survey was conducted and released today by the consumer advocacy group, MyWireless.org, at International CTIA WIRELESS® in New Orleans, LA.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100915/DC65532LOGO)

Among the survey's specific findings are that 95% of American wireless users are either highly satisfied or satisfied with their wireless service provider. It also indicates that 85 percent of U.S. wireless consumers believe wireless companies are providing them with choices of wireless devices and service plans. While the survey reveals wide consensus on the value being provided by wireless companies, it indicates consumers are relatively in the dark when it comes to knowing what they're paying local, state, and federal governments each month in taxes and fees.  Nearly one-third of the respondents indicate they have no idea what they pay in monthly taxes and fees, and of those who provide an estimate of their monthly burden, about half believe it to be 9% or less. The national average is actually nearly 17 percent.

"It's clear that Americans like what wireless means to their lives and believe that wireless companies are providing them with an outstanding deal. At the same time, they are unfortunately largely unaware they're being gouged by shockingly high rates of taxes and fees for a service they use so much in their everyday lives," said Amy McLean, Manager of Advocacy for MyWireless.org. "These results make us even more determined to educate consumers on the unfair tax and fee burden they're bearing, and to help them stand up and tell their elected officials that enough is enough, and they should get tax relief much sooner than later."

In addition to the lack of awareness of the average wireless tax and fee burden, more than 90% of those surveyed say they believe their wireless tax rate should be the same or less than the average general sales tax, which is approximately 7%.  When asked about a five-year freeze on new state and local taxes and fees, 74% say they support it.

Results show that by more than a four-to-one ratio, respondents believe adding regulations would either make their service worse or make no difference, and by a ratio of 15 to one, think it would make their service more expensive.

Additional survey results and analysis are available at www.mywireless.org/media-center/data-center/.

McLaughlin & Associates and Penn Schoen Berland conducted this bipartisan national survey of 1,000 adult wireless phone users, who are likely voters. It was conducted between February 28 and March 1, 2012. Interviews were conducted by professional interviewers via telephone. Selection was at random within predetermined geographic units. These units were structured to statistically correlate with actual general election turnouts. The accuracy of the sample is within +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.

MyWireless.org® is a nonpartisan 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.

SOURCE MyWireless.org

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED