Cell phone tax fails at ballot box

Cell phone tax fails at ballot box

Propositions A also fell hard in the Aug. 6 election.

The measure, which would have established a 50-cent surcharge on cellular users for 911 service, was nixed by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio (600,110-to-318,824).

Bill Bryan, regional manager of Cingular, said a lack of voter education on the issue contributed to its defeat. He said, if implemented, there would have been no profit or revenue benefits to cell phone providers.

Jason Conover, general manager of Atlas Communications, said Proposition A would have been worthwhile if the money raised was spent the way it was presented. He added, however, that taxes on cell phones are already high.