The ITM (Internet Tax Moratorium)law was designed as a means to encourage internet technologies, infrastructure and ecommerce platforms. The rational behind the moratorium was that by preventing new taxes on certain internet related activities such as: Internet access, taxes on Internet transactions involving several jurisdictions, and discriminatory taxes that treat Internet purchases differently from other types of commerce. The moratorium was a bipartisan effort to stop Federal, State, and local governments from stifling the growth of the internet sector of the economy and to help internet related companies to create new jobs. Supporters of the law also cite studies that taxing internet access would have a negative effect on lower income households ability to have internet access and cause a disparagement between the haves and have nots. In renewing the law President Bush stated that, "The Internet is an innovative force that enables such applications as distance learning and precision farming. The President went on to say that the government had an obligation to help make the internet affordable not to add taxes to it and make it more expensive. Although the internet and the technologies supporting it are still in their infancy, they are a driving force in the world economy. The government often uses tax breaks to encourage growth in depressed sections of the economy and economically depressed regions of the country to stimulate development and investment. The internet has and will continue to benefit from the ITM for as long as it is extended and the entire world will reap the rewards and benefits of a growing and thriving internet and internet economy. The internet is helping to improve on everything from the space program to saving endangered animal species. The government must continue to "stay out of the way" of researchers, entrepreneurs and companies that are at the forefront of internet technologies. This is best achieved by not adding burdensome taxes to internet access and internet transactions. The ITM will let the internet continue to grow like no other medium ever has. (c) 2006, Marcus Barber |
