WEST VIRGINIA CONSUMERS URGED TO OPPOSE
HIGHEST PHONE TAX IN THE UNITED STATES

CHARLESTON, W.V.//December 14, 2006///Two organizations representing senior citizens and people with disabilities are urging West Virginia consumers to contact Gov. Joe Manchin and state lawmakers "to halt the imposition of the highest e911 phone tax in the United States on senior citizens, people with disabilities and other low-income consumers in West Virginia."

The Seniors Coalition (TSC) and the American Association of Person with Disabilities (AAPD) are urging state residents to go to a new Web site, http://www.NoUnfairPhoneTaxes.org, to email Gov. Manchin or call him toll free at 1-888-438-2731.

Under an action taken by the West Virginia Legislature, cell phone users in the state now pay a sky-high $3 per month for e911 service -- the highest such cell phone 911 tax in the country, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The $3 West Virginia e911 tax is considerably higher than the same monthly charge in surrounding states: Ohio, 32 cents; Kentucky, 70 cents; Virginia, 75 cents; and Pennsylvania, $1.

AAPD CEO & President Andrew J. Imparato said: "West Virginia's $3.00 monthly fee is especially harmful to citizens with disabilities who purchase prepaid cell phone service and who rely on such service for safety and security. Such a high fee is onerous for our members who are the most likely to be among low income, unemployed or underemployed persons in the state."

The Seniors Coalition Chairman, Mary Martin said: "West Virginia has no excuse for charging its citizens so much for this service. We hope that all residents will contact Gov. Manchin regarding this issue, but it is especially critical for those on fixed incomes - such as senior citizens - that there be some relief quickly."

The full text of the message for Gov. Manchin on the http://www.NoUnfairPhoneTaxes.org Web site reads as follows:

"As a West Virginia taxpayer, I am urging you and all members of the West Virginia Legislature to halt the imposition of the highest e911 phone tax in the United States on the disabled, senior citizens and other low-income consumers in West Virginia. These are the people that the state of West Virginia should be looking after - not socking them with outrageously high taxes of $3 a month. Many of these consumers need prepaid wireless services and this unfair and extreme tax would make such phone service unaffordable for many. I urge you not to target West Virginia consumers with the heaviest e911 phone tax in the nation - several times higher than the same tax in neighboring states!"

A downloadable file of a related AAPD/TSC newspaper ad is available at http://www.nounfairphonetaxes.org/WVAd.pdf.

ABOUT THE GROUPS

The Seniors Coalition is the nation's leading free-market senior education and advocacy organization with a membership of more than 4 million seniors. The mission of The Seniors Coalition (TSC) is to protect the quality of life and economic well-being that older Americans have earned while supporting common sense solutions to the challenges of the future. American Association of Person with Disabilities is the largest national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities. AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

CONTACT

Ailis Aaron Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com.