In an open letter to the United States Senate, the Center for Individual Freedom this week joined other national organizations in urging swift consideration of S. 156, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. 

With the current Internet tax moratorium set to expire on November 1, the Senate must act soon to prevent states and localities from imposing new taxes on Internet access and on the goods and services consumers purchase online. 

The House of Representatives passed a watered-down extension (H.R. 3678) of the current Internet tax ban on October 16, but as the letter points out, that "legislation only extends the moratorium until 2011 and does nothing to help taxpayers in states" that are grandfathered from the current law.  Furthermore, the letter expresses concern that the House-passed legislation narrows the definition of "Internet access," which could ultimately subject new Internet services to taxation.

While the House-passed legislation is certainly better than allowing the current moratorium to expire, the letter stresses that "[s]urely the Senate can do better by passing S. 156, which would truly keep all taxpayers safe from the threat of Internet taxes." 

Indeed, if Congress is serious about keeping the Internet tax-free, it should stop playing games with the definition of Internet access and swiftly move to make the moratorium permanent.

To read the full text of the letter, click here (pdf) .