Japan Considers Taxing of WiFi

DoktorTomoe writes "According to an article at Asia Pacific Media Network, Japan plans to introduce a fee for using WLan. The changes necessary for such taxation could be made as early as 2005. "

Comments

Not sure how they could do it

[siliconjunkie]

I can see how they apply a tax to cell phones and other such devices that require an account with a provider, as taxes can be enforced via the normal billing cycle. But how do you tax WiFi? It certainly couldn't be done via the ISP's billing mechanism (right?)...

I'm interested to see how they figure this one out, but I must say...this reminds me of the chainmails of a few years back that claimed the U.S. Government was going to tax email.....

tax would be on *hardware*, RTFA!

[javaxman]

I can't believe all the idiots on /. ...
They're talking about an extra tax on wifi hardware, not on "usage" per se. The tax would be at time of sale. RTFA, people.

Re:Tax everything

[pilgrim23]

The classic example of basic research and its applicability is illustrated by the visit of Prime Minister Gladstone to the laboratory
of Michael Faraday. Gladstone asked Faraday whether he thought this esoteric substance called "electricity" would ever have any practical uses. Faraday's reply was, "ONE DAY, SIR YOU WILL TAX IT."
From Editorial in Science 26:735 11 Feb 1994 by Daniel E. Koshland
Jr.

Re:Tax everything

[rock_climbing_guy]

You took that from US President Ronald Reagan,

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:

If it moves, tax it.
If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

Those are his words.