William F. Smith: “Mr. Speaker, I could use my time today to discuss the bill before us because it does some good things, as the gentleman…”

“Mr. Speaker, I could use my time today to discuss the bill before us because it does some good things, as the gentleman from North Carolina has pointed out. For example, it clarifies a definition of ``Internet access'' to ensure that States do not tax Internet access, including the acquisition of transmission capabilities. But instead, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to talk more about what this bill does not do. This bill does not permanently ban taxes on Internet access and e-commerce. Only by making the ban on Internet access taxes permanent can we give businesses the certainty they need to spend billions of dollars to construct, maintain and update the broadband Internet infrastructure throughout the country. And only by extending the moratorium permanently can we continue to keep the cost of Internet access down so that low-income individuals, those who are most sensitive to cost, can continue to use the great informational tool that is called ``the Internet.'' More than 240 Members have cosponsored bills H.R. 743 and H.R. 1077, which provide for a permanent extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. This support is broad and bipartisan. A permanent extension is also consistent with the past actions of the House, which passed a permanent ban in 2003.”