TechAmerica and 18 State Tech Council Partners, Industry Groups Support Passage of the Internet Tax Freedom Act

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TechAmerica, the public sector and public advocacy department of CompTIA, and 18 state tech council partners and industry groups today expressed support for passage of legislation that bans federal, state and local governments from both taxing Internet access charges and assessing multiple taxes on electronic commerce in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The technology groups are supporting H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA).  Passed by the House on July 15 and now in the Senate, this legislation would put a permanent ban on multiple and discriminatory taxes on access to the Internet.

Joining TechAmerica in backing the legislation are the Arizona Technology Council, Colorado Technology Association, CONNECT, Connecticut Technology Council, Idaho Technology Council, Illinois Technology Association, Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, New Jersey Technology Council, New York Technology Council, North Carolina Technology Association, Northeast Ohio Software Association, Northern Virginia Technology Council, Technology Association of Louisville Kentucky, Technology Association of Oregon, Technology Councils of North America, The ASCII Group, and the Utah Technology Council.

"We urge the Senate to pass a permanent ban on multiple and discriminatory taxes on access to the Internet, as provided in bipartisan legislation, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (H.R. 3086) and the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act (S. 1431).  The Internet is now a basic necessity for our business and personal lives, and we must not allow federal, state or local taxes to hinder access for all Americans," the groups said.

"The Internet provides a dynamic mode of communication for our American society, as well as our neighbors around the world. Accordingly, we believe that access to the Internet should remain unburdened by taxes.  We must not allow a patchwork of federal, state and local taxes to restrict access to this essential service."

The full letter is available here.

About TechAmerica
TechAmerica is the public sector and public policy department of CompTIA, advocating before decision-makers at the state, federal and international levels of government. Representing technology companies of all sizes, TechAmerica is committed to expanding market opportunities and driving competitiveness of the U.S. technology industry around the world. With offices on Capitol Hill and in Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley and Europe, as well as regional offices around the U.S., we deliver our members top-tier business intelligence and networking opportunities on a global scale. Learn more about TechAmerica at www.techamerica.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Learn more about CompTIA, the ICT industry trade association, at www.comptia.org.

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SOURCE TechAmerica