WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday approved a five-year freeze on any new state and local taxes imposed on cellphones and other wireless services, including wireless broadband access.

The voice vote reflected a consensus that new taxes on wireless mobile services have far outpaced average sales taxes on other items and have become a deterrent to the spread of wireless broadband technology.

“We need to encourage the development and adoption of wireless broadband, not tax it out of existence,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the sponsor of the legislation.

She said that in many places the taxation of wireless approaches or even exceeds the rates of taxes on goods like alcohol and tobacco.

Her office said wireless customers now pay 16.3 percent in taxes and fees, more than double the average rate of 7.4 percent on other goods and services.

The bill prohibits state and local governments from imposing new discriminatory taxes on mobile services, providers or property — cellphones — for five years. Discriminatory taxes are defined as those not generally imposed on other types of services and providers or imposed at a lower rate.