California regulators will not be going forward with a plan to charge a fee for text messaging on mobile phones.
The California Public Utilities Commission's decision to back away from the plan comes after a Federal Communications Commission ruling last week which classified text messaging as an information service and not a telecommunications service. That action limits state authority over information services.
Regulators announced Friday CPUC commissioner Carla Peterman withdrew the text proposal "in light of the FCC's action."
CPUC officials said the proposed tax would help support programs that make phone service accessible to the poor in California.
The wireless industry and business groups were strongly opposed to the plan.