CTIA WIRELESS 2012 — A national survey of wireless consumers shows they are extremely satisfied with service providers, strongly believe that wireless companies are providing users with a wide range of choices of wireless devices and service plans, and are surprisingly unaware of the average rate in taxes and fees they're paying on their wireless bills.

The annual Wireless Consumer Survey was conducted and released today by the consumer advocacy group, MyWireless.org, at the CTIA 2012 Wireless trade show in New Orleans.

The survey found that 95 percent of American wireless users are either highly satisfied or satisfied with their wireless service provider. It also indicates that 85 percent of U.S. wireless consumers believe wireless companies are providing them with choices of wireless devices and service plans.

While the survey reveals wide consensus on the value being provided by wireless companies, it indicates consumers are relatively in the dark when it comes to knowing what they're paying local, state, and federal governments each month in taxes and fees.

Nearly one-third of the respondents indicate they have no idea what they pay in monthly taxes and fees, and of those who provide an estimate of their monthly burden, about half believe it to be 9 percent or less. The national average is actually nearly 17 percent.

"It's clear that Americans like what wireless means to their lives and believe that wireless companies are providing them with an outstanding deal," said Amy McLean, manager of advocacy for MyWireless.org. "At the same time, they are unfortunately largely unaware they're being gouged by shockingly high rates of taxes and fees for a service they use so much in their everyday lives."

In addition to the lack of awareness of the average wireless tax and fee burden, MyWireless.org found, more than 90 percent of those surveyed say they believe their wireless tax rate should be the same or less than the average general sales tax, which is approximately 7 percent. 

When asked about a five-year freeze on new state and local taxes and fees, 74 percent say they support it.

Results show that by more than a four-to-one ratio, respondents believe adding regulations would either make their service worse or make no difference, and by a ratio of 15 to one, think it would make their service more expensive.

Looking for more? Click here for B/OSS' ongoing coverage of CTIA Wireless 2012 and here for V2M's coverage of the event. And check out V2M Editor-in-Chief Tara Seals' Twitter feed for her take from New Orleans.