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

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 16: A visitor tries out an Apple iPhone 7 on the first day of sales of the new phone at the Berlin Apple store on September 16, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The new phone comes in two sizes, one with a 4.7 inch display, the other with a 5.5 inch display. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Posted at 11:33 AM, Dec 13, 2018

and last updated 2018-12-13 14:33:42-05

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.

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

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