Kolbe backs anti-tax bill for Internet

Kolbe has voiced his support for the Internet Access Charge Prohibition Act of 1999, forbidding the government from inflicting per-minute, long-distance tolls on Internet providers.

In a statement released by the Arizona Republican, Kolbe said families could spend "hundreds of dollars" every year by paying taxes on long-distance calls.

"Right now, as it stands, the Internet is a bastion of untaxed commerce," said Keith Rosenblum, a spokesman in Kolbe's office.

University of Arizona students who use the Web could be forced to spend more money for their service if the government imposes taxes, said Phil Grant, an attorney for Dakota Communications, the UA's Internet provider.

"It (the bill) will keep Dakota from spending more for time access and will keep your charges down," Grant said.

The Federal Communications Commission never ruled that the government cannot tax Internet providers, said Dave Woodruff, spokesman for Fred Upton, R-Mich.

"We want to make sure the government doesn't meddle with that," he said.

The bill was introduced March 25 by Upton, and the House of Representatives is expected to vote on it within the next several months, Woodruff said.

Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin, R-La., is one of the 60 co-sponsors.

Sprint PCS spokesman James Fisher said the phone company has not taken a position on the bill and he is unaware if it will at a later date.

Electrical engineering sophomore Tiffany Harris, who said she uses the World Wide Web for about two hours each day, said she would not want to pay more.

"Communication is an essential thing," Leonard said. "It seems you are already paying when you sign up for a service, why pay beyond that?"

Adam Felson, a business management freshman, said taxes on service would deter him from using the Internet.

"Taxing something like this would slow down its growth and limit the new communication we have been able to experience," Felson said.