Political Quotes

“The clock is ticking down on a key law that protects Internet freedom. On October 1, 2015, a temporary moratorium on State taxation of Internet access will expire. In 1998, Congress temporarily banned State and local governments from newly taxing Internet access or placing multiple or discriminatory taxes on Internet commerce. With minor modifications, this ban was extended five times, with enormous bipartisan support. The most recent extension passed in 2014. If the moratorium is not renewed, the potential tax burden on consumers will be substantial. The average tax rate on communications services in 2007 was 13.5 percent, more than twice the average rate on all other goods and services. The FCC's recent reclassification of the Internet as a telecom service emboldens States to apply these telecom taxes to Internet access immediately, should ITFA lapse. To make matters worse, this tax is regressive. Low-income households pay 10 times as much in communications taxes as high-income households as a share of income. The Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act converts the moratorium into a permanent ban--on which consumers, innovators, and investors can permanently rely--by simply striking the 2015 end date. This legislation prevents a surprise tax hike on Americans' critical services this fall.…”