St. Louis Post-Dispatch

January 23, 2020

By: Kurt Erickson

“As Cable Companies Lose Customers, Missouri Lawmakers Consider Giving Them A Tax Break”

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri cities are fighting a push to lower how much cable television companies pay to operate within their borders.

At least two proposals under consideration in the House and Senate would cut the taxes paid by companies such as Charter Communications by an estimated 75%, resulting in a loss of revenue by the cities.

The move by the Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association is an attempt to address declining revenues as more consumers cut the cord and instead use internet streaming services to watch TV, movies and sports.

Unlike the cable companies, streaming services don’t pay local taxes, MCTA executive director Andy Blunt told the Post-Dispatch.

“MCTA feels strongly that government should not pick winners or losers in a marketplace by taxing similar products differently,” Blunt said.

The rise of streaming services has been vexing to cities, who have attempted to extract revenue from them in the face of declining cable franchise fees.

For the full article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, click here.