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Internet Service Tax Moritorium Set To Expire

Posted by kdawson on from the one-of-two-things-we-have-always-with-us dept.

nelsonjs writes "On November 1, the ban on taxing Internet service is set to expire. The ban was originally implemented in 1998 in order to encourage the proliferation of Net access. The Senate is considering two competing bills to extend the ban: one would extend it for four years and the other would make the ban permanent. Verizon and Google, usually to be found on opposite sides of any question of Net access, are united in lobbying for the permanent tax ban. If neither passes by November 1, prices for Internet service nationwide could jump by as much as 17 percent, according to ISPs."

1 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. What is the tax for? by foniksonik · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Taxes are typically set in order for the government (State or Federal or City) to aggregate some money to DO SOMETHING. What will they DO with this money? If they will build out Municipal networks with the money, extend fibre to neighborhoods that don't currently get it because it's not profitable enough for the private company to invest, then I am FOR the taxes. If it's just going to go into a slush fund that will pay bonuses or something then I am AGAINST the taxes.

    Does anyone know what these taxes are for?

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.