September 12, 2013
The Honorable Bob Goodlatte
Rayburn House Office Building #2309
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Anna Eshoo
Cannon House Office Building, #241
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2013 (H.R. 3086)
Dear Chairman Goodlatte and Representative Eshoo,
The Internet Tax Freedom Act Coalition applauds your leadership in introducing the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act which permanently extends themoratorium onInternet access taxes and prohibits multiple and discriminatory taxation of Internetcommerce. When the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) was first enacted, the opportunitypresented by the Internet was just beginning to show its promise. However, during thefifteen years since ITFA first instituted a moratorium on the taxation of Internet access, theInternet has become the engine of our 21st century global economy. There has beentremendous innovation leading to increased business productivity, development ofcountless computer applications and enhanced access to education, employment and healthcare resources. The importance of the Internet to numerous aspects of our everyday liveshas expanded beyond anyone’s initial dreams.
The impact of the Internet is evident in the scope of its use to help displaced workerslook for new job opportunities, to permit students to access online educational materials to complete their homework, to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to new marketplaces throughout the nation and across the globe and to enable consumers to access information and entertainment anywhere and at any time. The Internet provides consumers with access to health care monitoring services, government services, wireless AMBER alerts and 24/7 news coverage.
Broadband networks connect global markets and consumers without regard to state and national boundaries. Passing the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act will protect consumers from new taxes that would inevitably be imposed on Internet access by state and local governments seeking new sources of revenue to fund government services. It also ensures that consumers will not be subjected to discriminatory taxation of new innovative services or duplicative taxation by multiple states and localities claiming authority to tax the same transaction.
Introduction of this bill is a critical step to ensure that consumers continue to be protected from having their Internet access burdened by new state and local taxes and their purchases over the Internet burdened by multiple and discriminatory taxes. Originally passed in 1998 and extended three times since with broad bipartisan support, ITFA encourages the flow of commerce and information over the Internet and improves our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy.
We commend you on your efforts to protect consumers by making ITFA permanent and look forward to working with you and othermembers of Congress to achieve this important goal through the enactment of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act in 2014.
Sincerely,
Amazon
Americans for Tax Reform
AT&T
CenturyLink
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Comcast
Cox Enterprises
CTIA – TheWireless Association
Digital Liberty
Institute for Policy Innovation
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
Madery Bridge Associates
National Black Chamber of Commerce
National Cable and Telecommunications Association
NTCA -The Rural Broadband Association
National Taxpayers Union
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
TimeWarner Cable
T-Mobile
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
USTelecom Association
Verizon
cc: The Honorable Spencer Bachus
Rayburn House Office Building, #2246
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Steve Cohen
Rayburn House Office Building, #2404
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Steve Chabot
Rayburn House Office Building, #2371
Washington, DC 20515