| America
depends on the Internet for communication and economic growth. However, some Senators
want to end the current moratorium on taxes on Internet access and multiple and
discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce, which expired on November 1, 2003.
Others, like Senator Alexander (TN), want to allow States to tax DSL services
and impose hidden taxes on consumers' Internet access. The National Grange strongly
opposes these efforts to tax access to the Internet or to impose additional hidden
taxes on consumers use of the Internet in daily commerce. S.150, the Internet
Tax Nondiscrimination Act would permanently ensure that States may not tax American
consumers' access to the Internet, regardless of the technology used to do so.
The bill also permanently extends the existing moratorium against multiple and
discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. Bill
Text This
bill is important for jobs, businesses of all sizes, the economy, and consumers.
It is especially important for low-income and rural areas to increase their access
to the Internet because: -
Removing the burdens of discriminatory and regressive state taxes will enable
more lower- and middle-income families to realize the broad range of benefits
that come from access to the Internet.
-
"Taxing the Internet" really means taxing consumers who use the Internet and threatens
to broaden the digital divide.
-
Taxes that hit lower- and middle-income families harder than the rich. It will
cut off access to technology for many of these families because the cost will
be out of their reach and the digital divide will grow even wider.
The
National Grange's policy on the Internet tax issue is as follows: The
National Grange opposes any federal government imposed charges or taxes on e-mail
or the use of the Internet.
The
vote on Internet tax bill S.150 is expected as early as this week so, it is urgent
that action be taken in the next few days so that Senators vote in favor of the
bill.
| Sample
Letter: |
Dear
Sen. ___________:
I
am writing to urge you to support S. 150, Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act. Support
S. 150 and make permanent the Internet tax moratorium in ways that ensure all
methods of Internet access-dial-up, DSL, cable, satellite, or wireless-are covered
by the moratorium. Permanently extending the Internet Tax Moratorium will allow
low-income and rural areas to increase their access to the Internet. Now
is the time for Congress to make the ban on taxing access to the Internet permanent.
Please help pass this
important piece of legislation in this session. (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
|
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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Grange? For all subscription and circulation inquiries, Contact: Jonathan
Hill. |
