https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/201 ... 293656002/The proposal by a California commission to impose a "texting tax" raised more questions Wednesday than answers. Here's what we know so far:
Who is behind this?
The proposal was filed by California's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), a group that regulates public utilities operating in the state. In addition to communications services, such as cell phone carriers, the group is also responsible for regulating energy, water and transportation over rail systems, and passenger cars.
Why are they doing this?
The proposal hopes to use the tax to help fund access to telecommunications services for lower-income California residents, making up for lost revenue the state used to receive from a tax on voice calls.
As mobile phone users shifted from making phone calls to using messaging services to communicate, voice call revenue for these state programs has dropped by roughly a third, from $16.5 billion in 2011 to $11.3 billion in 2017, according to filings from the commission.
Who would be taxed?
It's not entirely clear.
Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council, a California business advocacy group, said he found the details vague.
"I don’t know how clear the CPUC has been with answering these questions," Wunderman said. "Does the sender pay? Does the receiver pay? What if you move out of state but you keep the California number? What if you drive down to Reno, Nevada and get a phone? Can you avoid the charge then? These are all things that would be really hard to resolve."
What would be taxed?
According to the filing, the CPUC is proposing to tax traditional text messages known as SMS or MMS. Unlike iMessages on iPhones or using the text feature in WhatsApp, the texts the CPUC would tax are ones sent over a mobile phone's built-in messaging app, (iPhone users will know these as "green bubbles" in the Messages app). The CPUC is also seeking to retroactively tax users for the last five years.
This is what you get with crazy Democrats in charge. President of the CPUC, who came up with this ludicrous idea, is Michael Picker who is a "political consultant and Democratic PR guru".
A texting tax?
