California text tax: New FCC ruling could block proposed text messaging tax

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A new FCC ruling may block a proposal to tax text messages in California . The way it classifies texts could kill the tax.

Wednesday night, the FCC classified text messaging services as "information services" rather than "telecommunications services."

MORE: California wants to tax your text messages.

According to KABC's sister station KGO-TV's media partner The Mercury News, that's important because critics say the commission cannot impose the tax without federal officials classifying text messaging as a "telecommunications service."

The California Public Utilities Commission has proposed extending an existing tax to text messages to fund programs which help the poor.

Story courtesy of KABC .