Senate passes 7-year extension of moratorium on Net access taxes

SENATE PASSES 7-YEAR EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM ON NET ACCESS TAXES
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Senate on Thursday night approved a seven-year extension of a moratorium on state and local taxes on Internet access. The Senate voice vote came a little over a week after the House passed a bill calling for a four-year moratorium. The tax ban, first approved in 1998, is set to expire Nov. 1. Attempts in both the House and Senate to make the ban permanent in recent weeks were unsuccessful despite strong support for the idea. The two chambers will have to reach a compromise on the length of the ban and other differences before the bill can be sent to the White House for President Bush's signature.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_7285660

* Web Tax Triumph
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
While accepting less than a permanent ban, Mr. Sununu and his pro-Internet allies won additional provisions authored by Mr. Wyden to protect consumers. A report yesterday from the Congressional Research Service revealed that the House had botched the drafting of its four-year extension by leaving open the possibility of new taxes on email services if they weren't marketed along with Internet access service. Kudos to Senators Sununu, McConnell and Wyden. If the House, as expected, passes the Senate bill early next week, President Bush can sign it into law before the current ban expires November 1.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119336627623472570.html?mod=todays_us_op...
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