Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 17:11:46 -0800
________________________________________ From: Lauren Weinstein [lauren () vortex com] Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 5:19 PM To: David Farber Cc: lauren () vortex com; touch () isi edu Subject: Re: [IP] Re: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes This is precisely (one aspect) that makes the L.A. measure so insidious, as I noted in my piece. The proposal's pro argument says that it doesn't create an Internet tax. But that's only because federal law currently prohibits such a tax. At such a time as the federal moratorium isn't renewed, the L.A. telecom tax (if approved as worded) would *automatically* and permanently expand to cover virtually all VoIP, Internet access services, etc. -- it's *very* broadly written to cover data communications services ("except as prohibited by other laws"). It's a stealth Internet tax, waiting in the background like a trap. Another nasty aspect of the proposal is that it's titled to try entice voters to say "yes" for a lowering of the phone tax from 10% to 9%, when in reality if they vote the proposal down the phone tax (and stealth Internet tax) would likely vanish entirely, since courts have already ruled the tax *illegal* without voter approval. This in fact is the only reason that the city lowered the proposal from 10% to 9%, so that they could put it on the ballot as a tax "reduction" -- and hope that people would just vote based on "reduction" in the title and not realize that a "no" vote could lead to a 0% "tax" instead. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com - - -
________________________________________ From: Joe Touch [touch () ISI EDU] Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 3:15 PM To: David Farber Subject: Re: [IP] "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes Dave, Internet access isn't taxable by federal law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Tax_Freedom_Act That law was extended on Oct 31, 2007 for another 7 years: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071031-17.html FYI, here's a pointer to the proposed measure, which is on the LA city ballot: http://www.smartvoter.org/2008/02/05/ca/la/meas/S/ I.e., the current state is that there is no Internet tax, and will be none for 7 more years. It'd be useful for the feds to make that law permanent, but fighting this at the local level seems futile by comparison, IMO. Joe
David Farber wrote:
________________________________________ From: Lauren Weinstein [lauren () vortex com] Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:48 AM To: David Farber Cc: lauren () vortex com Subject: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000350.html Greetings and Happy New Year! If you've ever wondered how low some government officials might sink to try push through a tax that they know is unpopular -- such as on telephone services and the Internet for example -- you need look no further than the upcoming presidential primary ballot here in L.A. for this coming February 5th. Rushed onto the ballet is a little gem called Proposition S. I don't much mind when tax proposals are presented in an honest manner, but Proposition S is ... well ... "instructive" is one word that comes to mind. The other words I might choose aren't appropriate for this venue. While the outcome of "S" will only directly affect those living in Los Angeles, anyone might still wish to listen to the very short audio piece (well under two minutes in length) that I've put together as a hopefully useful -- and for me, emotionally cathartic -- gesture toward the goal of a well-informed electorate. After all, you never know when your own local politicos might try the same ballot stunt in your neighborhood. The audio presentation is called: "'S' is for Sneaky: L.A.'s Telephone & Internet Tax Proposition" MP3 Audio Version: http://lauren.vortex.com/s-is-for-sneaky.mp3 YouTube Version (Audio Only): http://lauren.vortex.com/sneaky-prop-s-youtube Proposition S would almost be funny, if it wasn't such an embarrassment! --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com ------------------------------------------- Archives: http://v2.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: http://v2.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com------------------------------------------- Archives: http://v2.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: http://v2.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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Current thread:
- "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes David Farber (Jan 02)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes David Farber (Jan 02)
- Re: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes David Farber (Jan 02)
- Re: "S" is for Sneaky: The Slimy Path to Phone and Internet Taxes David Farber (Jan 03)