(NAPSM)—When it comes to new government regulations on cell phone service, African-American wireless users have a clear opinion: Give us a break on taxes and fees, but otherwise, don’t “fix” what’s not broken.

A recent survey by MyWireless.org shows that African-American wireless consumers widely believe they get a high level of value out of their cell phone service and are satisfied with it, support legislation that would help protect them from paying new multiple or discriminatory taxes on their cell phone bill, and are largely skeptical of government regulation.



Specifically, the survey shows an overwhelming satisfaction rate (94 percent) with their wireless service and an equally impressive level of support for a five-year freeze on new wireless taxes and fees (83 percent), which is stronger than that found in the MyWireless.org Annual Consumer Survey of the general population.



While the national average tax and fee rate on wireless service is nearly 17 percent of a consumer’s monthly bill, 91 percent of those surveyed believed it should be lower or the same as the average general sales tax rate, which is about 7 percent. African Americans are also making mobile-related purchases, as 63 percent report buying digital downloads such as ringtones, music, video games, books, software or apps to their cell phone or other wireless devices.

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When it comes to how those purchases should be taxed, about twice as many respondents support federal guidelines to establish one fair and consistent set of taxes rather than the current system, which could subject them to multiple state and municipal taxes on the same purchase.



Other findings include: Besides voice calls, respondents use their phone most for texting (43 percent) and Internet access (16 percent). If they had to choose only one mode of communication, 39 percent say wireless is the most important to have, 29 percent selected broadband Internet, 14 percent say cable/satellite TV, and 13 percent chose a landline phone.When asked if they would give up their landline for a cell phone, 34 percent say they would and 20 percent say they already have.



More than any other group surveyed, African-American respondents are aware of and use parental controls or settings offered by wireless carriers that allow parents to limit a child’s cell phone use, child’s Internet access, and texting and downloading.



Additional survey results are available at www.mywireless.org/data-center-african-american-consumer-survey.