| Frequently-Asked Questions About the E-Freedom Coalition's
Proposal to the Advisory Commission on Electronic
Commerce by Staff on 11/10/99 of E-Freedom Coalition Topic: General, e-Freedom Coalition proposal | |
| I What does the E-Freedom Coalition's proposal do? The Coalition's proposal is comprehensive plan for making the Internet more accessible and promoting its growth. It does this by tearing down many of the barriers to Internet access and updating federal, state and local laws to ensure Americans can access the Internet at the lowest possible cost. The proposal advances the principle of no taxation without representation in the online world by ensuring that state and local governments cannot use the Internet as an excuse to impose their tax collection schemes on companies without a physical presence in their jurisdiction. How does the proposal make the Internet more accessible? The proposal tears down government regulations and taxes that make the Internet more expensive to reach. It repeals the 101-year old federal tax on telephone service. It prohibits state and local governments from taxing telecommunications properties at rates higher than those levied on other commercial properties. It slashes state and local telecommunications tax to a single tax per state, and a single tax per locality. It blocks state and local governments from erecting tolls on the Internet by charging huge fees to companies that bury telecommunications cable along state right-of-ways. Finally, the proposal permanently bans taxes specifically imposed on Internet access. How does the proposal keep taxes on the Internet low? The proposal keeps taxes on the Internet low in two ways. First, it permanently bans taxes specifically imposed on electronic commerce. Second, it affirms and expands existing constitutional law to ensure that no state or locality can use the Internet as an excuse to force companies with no physical presence in their jurisdiction to collect sales/use taxes. Citizens should not lose their right of "no taxation without representation" simply because they go online. How does the proposal protect consumer privacy? The proposal protects consumer privacy by ensuring that government does not use its power to collect, or compel and third party to collect, information on individual consumer transactions. Meanwhile, government should not block information sharing agreements reached between consumers and producers. What is the E-Freedom Coalition? The E-Freedom Coalition consists of taxpayer groups, think tanks, and other organizations working together to ensure that individual liberty and freedom are protected online. A complete list of members is available at www.e-freedom.org. ### |
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