Citizens' Utility Alliance of Washington: Phone/Telecom

Phone Survey Results

The Citizens Utility Alliance is committed to knowing the issues across the state. That's why we recently conducted a survey to determine what barriers are preventing individuals from obtaining reliable, inexpensive phone service. CUA surveyed 462 Spokane-area residents over five months to get a better understanding of phone service issues. To view a copy of the survey questions, click here.

The survey results are as follows:

1. 91.1% (421) of the residents were eligible for the Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP).

2. About one-third (32%) of the survey participants didn't have any type of phone service.

3. 45% of participants had landline phone service, 40% had cell phone service, and 17% had both landline and cell
phone service.

4. The average cell phone bill among cell phone users was $66.36.

5. One-third (33%) of survey participants were incorrect about their WTAP eligibility.

6. For those participants who didn't have landline phone service, but did have housing, 34% noted "old bills" as the reasoning for not having phone service.

For more information or results, contact sizemore@snapwa.org

The Citizens’ Utility Alliance of Washington
212 West 2nd Ave. Suite 100
Spokane, WA 99201-3501
509-744-3370 ext. 209
1-800-679-6087
info@citizensutilityalliance.org