Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	1,767	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	2,382	10	40%
Engrossed in House	1,600	20	49%
Referred in Senate	1,586	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	3%

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HR 1002 EHRFSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1002CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To restrict any State or local jurisdiction from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services, providers, or property.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) It is appropriate to exercise congressional enforcement authority under section 5 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Congress’ plenary power under article I, section 8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States (commonly known as the ‘commerce clause’) in order to ensure that States and political subdivisions thereof do not discriminate against providers and consumers of mobile services by imposing new selective and excessive taxes and other burdens on such providers and consumers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) In light of the history and pattern of discriminatory taxation faced by providers and consumers of mobile services, the prohibitions against and remedies to correct discriminatory State and local taxation in section 306 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (49 U.S.C. 11501) provide an appropriate analogy for congressional action, and similar Federal legislative measures are warranted that will prohibit imposing new discriminatory taxes on providers and consumers of mobile services and that will assure an effective, uniform remedy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. MORATORIUM.

(a) In General- No State or local jurisdiction shall impose a new discriminatory tax on or with respect to mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property, during the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions- In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) MOBILE SERVICE- The term ‘mobile service’ means commercial mobile radio service, as such term is defined in section 20.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, or any other service that is primarily intended for receipt on, transmission from, or use with a mobile telephone or other mobile device, including but not limited to the receipt of a digital good.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) MOBILE SERVICE PROPERTY- The term ‘mobile service property’ means all property used by a mobile service provider in connection with its business of providing mobile services, whether real, personal, tangible, or intangible (including goodwill, licenses, customer lists, and other similar intangible property associated with such business).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDER- The term ‘mobile service provider’ means any entity that sells or provides mobile services, but only to the extent that such entity sells or provides mobile services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) NEW DISCRIMINATORY TAX- The term ‘new discriminatory tax’ means a tax imposed by a State or local jurisdiction that is imposed on or with respect to, or is measured by, the charges, receipts, or revenues from or value of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a mobile service and is not generally imposed, or is generally imposed at a lower rate, on or with respect to, or measured by, the charges, receipts, or revenues from other services or transactions involving tangible personal property;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a mobile service provider and is not generally imposed, or is generally imposed at a lower rate, on other persons that are engaged in businesses other than the provision of mobile services; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) a mobile service property and is not generally imposed, or is generally imposed at a lower rate, on or with respect to, or measured by the value of, other property that is devoted to a commercial or industrial use and subject to a property tax levy, except public utility property owned by a public utility subject to rate of return regulation by a State or Federal regulatory authority;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





unless such tax was imposed and actually enforced on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property prior to the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) STATE OR LOCAL JURISDICTION- The term ‘State or local jurisdiction’ means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, any territory or possession of the United States, a political subdivision of any State, territory, or possession, or any governmental entity or person acting on behalf of such State, territory, possession, or subdivision that has the authority to assess, impose, levy, or collect taxes or fees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) TAX-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘tax’ means a charge imposed by a governmental entity for the purpose of generating revenues for governmental purposes, and excludes a fee imposed on a particular entity or class of entities for a specific privilege, service, or benefit conferred exclusively on such entity or class of entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EXCLUSION- The term ‘tax’ does not include any fee or charge--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) used to preserve and advance Federal universal service or similar State programs authorized by section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) specifically dedicated by a State or local jurisdiction for the support of E-911 communications systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Rules of Construction-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) DETERMINATION- For purposes of subsection (b)(4), all taxes, tax rates, exemptions, deductions, credits, incentives, exclusions, and other similar factors shall be taken into account in determining whether a tax is a new discriminatory tax.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES- Except as otherwise provided in this Act, in determining whether a tax on mobile service property is a new discriminatory tax for purposes of subsection (b)(4)(C), principles similar to those set forth in section 306 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (49 U.S.C. 11501) shall apply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EXCLUSIONS- Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the term ‘generally imposed’ as used in subsection (b)(4) shall not apply to any tax imposed only on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) specific services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) specific industries or business segments; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) specific types of property; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the term ‘new discriminatory tax’ shall not include a new tax or the modification of an existing tax that either--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i)(I) replaces one or more taxes that had been imposed on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) is designed so that, based on information available at the time of the enactment of such new tax or such modification, the amount of tax revenues generated thereby with respect to such mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property is reasonably expected to not exceed the amount of tax revenues that would have been generated by the respective replaced tax or taxes with respect to such mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) is a local jurisdiction tax that may not be imposed without voter approval, provides for at least 90 days’ prior notice to mobile service providers, and is required by law to be collected from mobile service customers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT.

Notwithstanding any provision of section 1341 of title 28, United States Code, or the constitution or laws of any State, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to amount in controversy or citizenship of the parties, to grant such mandatory or prohibitive injunctive relief, interim equitable relief, and declaratory judgments as may be necessary to prevent, restrain, or terminate any acts in violation of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) JURISDICTION- Such jurisdiction shall not be exclusive of the jurisdiction which any Federal or State court may have in the absence of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BURDEN OF PROOF- The burden of proof in any proceeding brought under this Act shall be upon the party seeking relief and shall be by a preponderance of the evidence on all issues of fact.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) RELIEF- In granting relief against a tax which is discriminatory or excessive under this Act with respect to tax rate or amount only, the court shall prevent, restrain, or terminate the imposition, levy, or collection of not more than the discriminatory or excessive portion of the tax as determined by the court.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. GAO STUDY.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study, throughout the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, to determine--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) how, and the extent to which, taxes imposed by local and State jurisdictions on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile property, impact the costs consumers pay for mobile services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the extent to which the moratorium on discriminatory mobile services taxes established in this Act has any impact on the costs consumers pay for mobile services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit, to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, a report containing the results of the study required subsection (a) and shall include in such report recommendations for any changes to laws and regulations relating to such results.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives November 1, 2011.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1002

AN ACT

To restrict any State or local jurisdiction from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services, providers, or property KAREN L. HAAS, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink