As reccomended by someone
on ridecamp, I wrote my member of congress - Bill Thomas: First Congressioanl
District of California. Here is his reply regarding e-mail and internet
charges.
Bill Thomas
writes:
Recalling your opposition
to taxes levied on e-mail, I think you may
be interested to know about some
of the measures passed by the House of
Representatives on this and other
issues relating to high technology.
* House Concurrent
Resolution 190-This resolution urges the United
States to pursue a global
moratorium on taxes on "e-commerce." Millions of
Americans use the
Internet for shopping and for other services and the
Republican Congress is
committed to stopping any attempts by the Clinton
Administration or foreign
nations to use this revolutionary medium for a
cash grab.
*
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (or
"E-Sign
Act")-This bill establishes a nationwide standard for
electronic
signatures, so that electronic signatures carry the same force
of law as
paper signatures.
* The Internet Tax Freedom Act-This bill
establishes a three year ban
on state and local taxes on the Internet, and
protects against the
imposition of new tax liability for consumers and
vendors involved in
commercial transactions over the Internet
* The
Security and Freedom through Encryption Act (or "SAFE" Act)-This
bill would
permit the export of strong, American-made encryption software
that is
already available from foreign nations, and would prohibit the
federal
government from mandating that citizens only use products that
the
government can access without consent.
In the coming months, the
House will debate additional measures related to
promotion of the Internet
and to enacting stricter protections of our online
privacy. As the
House proceeds, I will keep you advised of additional
action.
Best
Regards,
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
WILLIAM M. THOMAS
Member of
Congress
WMT/tpw