January 2016

The House Communications Subcommittee will try to revive an effort through a new bill, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act (HR 2666), to would prevent the Federal Communications Commission from using its new Open Internet rules to impose rate regulations on Internet service providers (ISPs). That is one of four bills the subcommittee will consider at a Jan 12 hearing to kick off the new year. A similar provision was initially targeted to ride the omnibus spending bill into law, but did not make it as a rider on the final bill that passed at the 11th hour in Dec.

The bill is essentially only one paragraph, as follows: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission may not regulate the rates charged for broadband Internet access service." Reviving the bill is sponsor Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). "The FCC’s Open Internet Order reclassified broadband under Title II, giving the FCC the ability to regulate rates in two distinct ways: tariffing and through declarations of what are 'reasonable' rates," Republican subcommittee leadership said in announcing the legislative hearing. The bill would make sure that the FCC couldn’t' regulate broadband rates--as it does some cable rates--by ensuring the prohibition in statute.

The Internal Revenue Service is quietly moving toward a high-tech future that could end up hurting taxpayers and costing them more money, a new report warns. Since 2014, the IRS has invested millions of dollars on a plan to make better use of its limited resources by moving more of its work online, including plans to adopt online taxpayer accounts. But the plan, which has yet to be made fully public, could add to people's costs come tax season — and discourage them from paying their dues, warned the National Taxpayer Advocate in its annual report to Congress.

"I have significant concerns that the IRS is embarking on a path that will unintentionally undermine taxpayer rights rather than enhance them, thereby eroding taxpayer trust further," wrote Nina Olson in her report to Congress. Olson said she is not against the IRS becoming more technologically savvy. But she is worried that the IRS' is creating a "pay-to-play" system, wherein only people who can afford professional help will receive assistance filing their taxes. OIson called for the IRS to "immediately publish its plan and solicit public comments." She also asked that Congress hold hearings in the next few months on the IRS' plans to move more activity online.