IP: Re: IP: A Kick in the Flat-Fee Access by Meeks

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 12:51:20 -0500
From: george () IntNet net (George Pilat)
To: farber () central cis upenn edu


Dave -


Thank you for the very interesting article by Brock Meeks concerning
the possible "Internet service tax."


To bring you up to speed, the Florida Department of Revenue is presently
working on this very issue.  They are attempting to have Internet
providers (and all Florida BBS's, as well) charge a "telecommunications tax"
for their computer services.


The Florida Department of Revenue is attempting to say that Internet
providers (and BBS's) are telecommunications companies and, as such,
should be collecting the additional tax from their customers.  This
could add up to 17.5% on the existing fees.  It seems to me,
this goes directly against what the President Clinton and Vice-president
Gore have been promoting - reasonable priced (pronounced: cheap)
Internet access for America (NII).


We are not standing idle, while this is taking place (as Mr. Meeks
points out in his article).  A group has been formed called COST
(Committee On State Taxation).  There are some heavy hitters.  A few
of the members are: Microsoft, Prodigy, GE, GTE, IBM, Compuserve, AOL
and IntNet.net <smile> just to mention a few.


Anyone that would like further information may contact Suzanna Pilat
(suzi () intnet net) or vist the web site: 


http://www.intnet.net/Tax.html


The web site will be updated as more information becomes available.


Feel free to post this to the list.


:)


George


George R. Pilat
george () intnet net