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   (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

   Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, over 100 million Americans today have access to the Internet. Seven million new Americans each second access the Internet for the first time. It is a tremendous opportunity, particularly for school children, to use the Internet for their school work and homework; but unfortunately, some are left behind.

   If you look at who has access to the Internet, you see the higher the income of the household, the more likely they have Internet access at home. Low-income families say the cost of Internet access is the chief barrier to their children having the opportunity to use the Internet and have a computer at home.

[Time: 15:45]

   Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of the leadership that this House has shown this year in removing those barriers to Internet access. We are making a choice: do we want the information superhighway to be a toll way or a freeway?

   Just this spring, in less than 1 month, we have eliminated three toll booths on the information superhighway. Number one, we extended for 5 years the Internet tax moratorium, putting a road block in the way of anyone who wants to impose a tax on Internet access.

   Second, just 2 weeks ago, we eliminated the FCC's authority to impose fees and taxes on Internet access; and I am proud today that we eliminated the century-old 3 percent tax on telephone calls. We are removing those toll booths because we want to give greater digital opportunity for all Americans.

END