Trend: State, local governments push for cell phone taxes

A growing number of state and local governments are pushing for higher cell phone taxes, making wireless prices more expensive for the average consumer. The new taxes add between $2 to $10 or more per month to consumer cell phone bills on top of existing federal and state taxes and fees for E911. Local and state governments see cell phone taxes as a way to make up for tax revenues lost from the declining number of landline phones. According to the FCC, the number of landlines nationwide dropped from 167 million in 2000 to 132 million in 2004. The number of cell phone subscribers grew from 109 million to 182 million during the same time.

For more on the growth of cell phone taxes:
- check out this article from today's USA Today