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[Ripclawe]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041203/D86ODPT00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - State and local governments will be barred from taxing connections that link people to the Internet for the next three years under legislation signed Friday by President Bush.

The measure blocks taxation of all types of Internet connections, from traditional dial-up services to high-speed broadband lines.

"I cannot envision any time in the history of our country when it would make sense to be imposing taxes on broadband or the Internet, no matter where one is or who one may be," said Sen. George Allen, R-Va.

The new law, which remains in effect until Oct. 31, 2007, will help ensure that less-affluent Americans can afford Internet access, Allen said. Otherwise, Internet access taxes would average 18 percent, he said.

An earlier ban lapsed more than a year ago while lawmakers struggled to rewrite the regulations to include new technologies while ensuring that it wouldn't exempt all telecommunications activities from taxation.

 

[Matlock]

Ah, so now the Telecom industry is lining his pockets.

 

[Drexon]

"I can make money from that thing Gore invented? Hot damn!"

 

[Kon Tiki]

Confused at the posts in this thread. Isn't this a bill blocking taxes?

 

[Fresh Prince]

He knows that if he taxs Internet Liberals they might actually do something instead of sitting on the internet and bitching

 

[DarthWoo]

Confused at the posts in this thread. Isn't this a bill blocking taxes?

I was wondering about that myself. Seems like some people didn't even read past the title before posting.

Edit: Although, if the government isn't taxing it, that means the telecomms can still jack up prices, and just have that much more cash in their pockets rather than having the money go over to the government, since people would pay the difference either way.

 

[Drexon]

*Raises hand*

 

[impirius]

I will gladly pay a tax on my Internet service if the government will kindly back the hell away from the Internet in other regards.

 

[tedtropy]

Alright, where's my GWB Assasination game?

 

[Docpan]

:lol

People don't even read the articles, they just read the topic titles and enter flame mode. :lol

 

[Gek54]

Or any of the posts. damn you flamers are dumb.

 

[KingV]

I will gladly pay a tax on my Internet service if the government will kindly back the hell away from the Internet in other regards.

Because they somehow limit what you can post? Or is this just in the case of if you can be guaranteed of that in the future.

 

[Silkworm]

Though Bush did sign a bill that BLOCKS TAXATION ON INTERNET CONNECTIONS, I wonder if that might not be a bad idea for at least generating some government money to help offset the deficit. Or maybe charge a small fee on email like postage or whatnot (at least that would have some benefical effect by cutting down on spam). Oh well, those probably aren't the best ideas, and I'm sure there are better ways to help generate government money

 

[demon]

GODDAMN that Bush if a fucking FACIST!!!!!

 

[Gek54]

How would they tax an e-mail server in another country?

 

[Ripclawe]

Though Bush did sign a bill that PREVENTS TAXATION ON INTERNET CONNECTIONS, I wonder if that might not be a bad idea for at least generating some government money to help offset the deficit.

state and some local governments have wanted to do this and tax transactions for a while, this takes away at least part of that desire.

Or maybe charge a small fee on email like postage or whatnot (at least that would have some benefical effect by cutting down on spam). Oh well, those probably aren't the best ideas, and I'm sure there are better ways to help generate government money

United Nations wanted to do that in 1999 but backed away after the U.S. protested.
That idea is still lurking though.

http://news.com.com/United+Nations+ponders+Nets+future/2100-1028_3-5179694.html

How would they tax an e-mail server in another country?

you could if ONE entity was in control
*points at link above*

 

[impirius]

Because they somehow limit what you can post? Or is this just in the case of if you can be guaranteed of that in the future.

I mean in regards to laws (DMCA, INDUCE, etc.) and regulations that Congress passes at the behest of media companies.

Maybe if we just all pledge 10% of our Internet bills to campaigns for Congressmen, we can outbid the media. It'd be like a tax, except we could actually see its effect.

(Also, taxation per email/byte/whatever is beyond ridiculous)

 

[MIMIC]

Yay! Now I only have 99.9999999998% of pure hatred of Bush.

 

[Gek54]

I am all about free speech but that is not cool.

 

[MetatronM]

I am all about free speech but that is not cool.

So YOU'RE the reason why Family Guy got cancelled in the first place.

 

[DCX]

good? or bad? that's all i want to know.

DCX

 

[PanopticBlue]

good? or bad? that's all i want to know.

DCX

You can't decide for yourself? This is what's wrong with people today, wanting to be told whats good or bad. Just ask yourself: How do you feel about paying taxes for your internet connection? Bush thinks thats bad, therefore he has blocked taxation on the internet, which is GOOD for us, so we don't have to pay tax for the internet.

 

[videogamer]

I am all about free speech but that is not cool.

Which other avatars don't you like? There are plenty of disrespectful avatars... care to explain why you chose MIMIC's to hate on?

 

[DCX]

You can't decide for yourself? This is what's wrong with people today, wanting to be told whats good or bad. Just ask yourself: How do you feel about paying taxes for your internet connection? Bush thinks thats bad, therefore he has blocked taxation on the internet, which is GOOD for us, so we don't have to pay tax for the internet.

Dude that's what i thought but with ying and yang comments in this thread i just want to ask to make sure, I'm sorry if i cemented your views on this nation's stupidity.

DCX

 

[MIMIC]

I am all about free speech but that is not cool.

It's not meant to be cool. Fire is hot as FUCK!

 

[Fresh Prince]

Come on somebody has to quote the friends of Voltaire...this is the damn internet.

 

[alejob]

This seems all fine and dandy, but the real question is which of the internets does this apply to?

Its all starting to make sense. Don't be fooled by this.

 

[Nerevar]

once again, our most fiscally responsible president reduces or limits taxes. I wonder what funding he increased to counter-balance this measure and further bury the US future in a mire of interest-riddled defecit?

 

[Phoenix]

To be perfectly honest folks this IS actually a bad thing. I'm all for paying less in taxes and all, but there IS a reason why those lines are being taxed. The state and local governments are going to be seriously hurting when they lose 100% of their money from telecom. Already they can't tax VOIP via the FCC. Now they can't tax the line either? Some states are going to lose big on this one, and many of these states (i.e. California) are already in severe budget crunches.

I hate to say it, but no good will come of this.

 

[DopeyFish]

United Nations wanted to do that in 1999 but backed away after the U.S. protested.

Microsoft and a lot of other companies (but the main player being MS) wants to go the route of postage on emails, and it's mainly because of spam.

 

[Matlock]

YEAH, YOU DAMN FLAMERS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING

Spoiler

I was insinuating that they were bribing him to avoid the eventual excise tax on the internet that could potentially hurt their business.

 

[fart]

The new law, which remains in effect until Oct. 31, 2007, will help ensure that less-affluent Americans can afford Internet access

no it won't. reigning in the fucking telecom giants and breaking their monopolies will.

not to mention upping federal research funding, giving federal funds to state&local for public access communications projects, etc. etc.

god, what a load of fucking bullshit

To be perfectly honest folks this IS actually a bad thing. I'm all for paying less in taxes and all, but there IS a reason why those lines are being taxed. The state and local governments are going to be seriously hurting when they lose 100% of their money from telecom. Already they can't tax VOIP via the FCC. Now they can't tax the line either? Some states are going to lose big on this one, and many of these states (i.e. California) are already in severe budget crunches.

I hate to say it, but no good will come of this.

i don't care how much you hate to say it phoenix, but this stuff needs to be said.