House Extends Internet Tax Ban

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to extend a moratorium on state Internet access taxes for four years.

Some lawmakers wanted a permanent ban, but the majority didn’t see matters that way.

The House voted 405-2 to keep the ban in place. It was scheduled to expire Nov. 1.

The Senate now must decide where it stands. Legislation similar to the House language has sat in the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee because members can’t agree whether to make the ban permanent or keep it temporary.

Some House Republicans said a permanent ban would spur broadband deployment and blamed Democrats for blocking that option.

Groups including CTIA – The Wireless Association and the Telecommunications Industry Association praised the bill’s passage.

CTIA www.ctia.org
TIA www.tiaonline.org
U.S. House www.house.gov
U.S. Senate www.senate.gov