Michigan Residents Oppose New State, County and Local Fees on Their Wireless Service, Says Survey

A new poll released today by consumer advocacy group MyWireless.org shows that 78% of Michigan voters feel they already pay enough for their service, and do not want to see their wireless phone fees increased.

The poll was commissioned to gauge voter sentiment on Senate Bill 410, Senate Bill 411 and House Bill 4852. Senate Bill 410 and Senate Bill 411, which have passed the Senate, would amend the State's Emergency Telephone Service Enabling Act to allow Michigan counties to impose an additional monthly county Emergency 9-1-1 (e-911) fee on top of existing monthly state e- 911 fees. In addition, House Bill 4852 would add a separate $1.35 monthly surcharge on telecommunications bills to fund public safety programs, such as probation and parole monitoring systems and the state forensic science division. All three bills currently await action before the House Appropriations Committee.

Seventy-six percent of those polled oppose allowing their county to add its own e-911 fee onto their monthly wireless phone bill in addition to the state e-911 fee that they already pay. More than 80 percent oppose the state adding a new $1.35 fee onto their monthly wireless phone bill to fund public safety "programs" in addition to paying state and local e-911 fees. Eighty-five percent believe that the funds collected from the e-911 fee they pay on their monthly wireless phone bill should be strictly designated to improve emergency response systems that locate people who dial 9-1-1 from their wireless phones.

"Nearly 7 million Michigan wireless consumers already pay their fair share in monthly federal, state and local wireless taxes, fees and surcharges," said Brian Johnston, director of communications for MyWireless.org. "As is, Michigan's wireless taxes and fees are on average 10 percent per monthly bill, which is a hefty burden for Michigan's working families, small businesses, seniors and others on fixed incomes. Communications services should be affordable and accessible for all Michiganders," Johnston said.

"It is clear from this new polling data that Michigan wireless consumers are greatly concerned with fees being collected from them each month that would go to non-wireless related government programs. These numbers show that Michigan citizens are concerned the new e-911 and public safety fees would not improve their wireless coverage, but rather fund unrelated state and local programs," Johnston added.

The bi-partisan poll -- commissioned by MyWireless.org and conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, and Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates -- surveyed 600 adult wireless phone users in Michigan, who are also likely voters. The survey was conducted on June 4, 2007.