A proposal for South Carolina cell phone customers to help pay for phone service in rural areas is up for discussion today in a House subcommittee.

The bill, called the “South Carolina Telecom Equity in Funding Act” proposes a 1 to 2 percent fee for cell phone users to subsidize traditional landline phone services for customers in hard to reach rural areas or for customers with disabilities.

“I have been fighting tax hikes for 25 years,” said Don Weaver, president of the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers. “This has been mischaracterized as a tax increase. It is not. It simply requires cellular companies to pay their fair share into a fund that guarantees landline access to seniors, businesses and rural areas. These companies use landlines and they are trying to dodge their responsibility.”

The bill passed the Senate at the beginning of May and received bipartisan support in the chamber. Sponsors of the bill include Republican Sen. Thomas Alexander, and Democratic Sen. Brad Hutto.

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