Mark Dayton: “Mr. President I have some concerns about the impact of S. 150 that I wish to address to the gentleman from Oregon, the…”

“Mr. President I have some concerns about the impact of S. 150 that I wish to address to the gentleman from Oregon, the author of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. It is my understanding that S. 150 provides that Internet access services do not include telecommunications services purchased by customers to obtain dial-up access to the Internet. I also understand that S. 150 provides that only telecommunications services purchased or used by the provider of Internet access in providing Internet access are included within the moratorium. Further, I understand that the Internet access moratorium does not apply to the sale or use of telecommunications services that are carried or ``routed'' over the internet that are not purchased or used to provide internet access, for example, services that are comparable to today's circuit switched voice but which are provided over internet protocol. This is often called ``Voice Over Internet Protocol,'' or VOIP. Finally, to the extent that a telecommunications carrier sells both internet access services and telecommunications services, I understand that the charges for internet access are covered by the moratorium subject to the accounting rule covering aggregated charges for internet access and telecommunications services. Am I correct in my analysis of S. 150?”