by Keith Hoell

Created on: April 15, 2008

The Internet is a network of interconnected computers. Of course a network encourages communication and, historically, the United States government has taxed communications networks. I mean, if you live in the U.S. and peruse your telephone bill you'll notice many incremental government charges whether you use a land-line or cellular network. You'll also notice that Uncle Sam is basically "nickel and diming" you to death. There are many regulatory surcharges that the government imposes on telecommunications companies of which, in turn, they kindly pass to you. The Internet fosters communication in dozens of ways through file sharing, instant messaging, Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VOIP), etc. so, naturally, why isn't the government taxing you specifically on its use? Well it is indirectly.

If you review your cable television bill you'll notice certain surcharges by Uncle Sam. There are Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory fees, as well as other fees going to government entities that control God knows what. However, these fees are not being charged to you for your use of the Internet. They are being charged so the cable that comes into your home can legally spurt out either a television or, in many cases, an Internet signal; but this is different than a direct tax on Internet usage right? Yes, however it is still a tax on ensuring regulatory compliance for you to obtain the Internet through the coaxial cable medium and all the switches, routers, backbones, etc. that run across government property and eventually into your home. So basically you are being taxed by the government indirectly and through your Internet provider - for you to obtain an Internet signal, unless, of course, you are reaching the Internet through your own personal satellite system (a highly unlikely scenario) in which case the government is taxing you directly!

So now some politicians on Capitol Hill are threatening a direct Internet tax? I totally disagree with this. I believe we are still using some pieces of government owned networks to enable our data to travel across the Internet. This includes old copper cable and other legacy computers and equipment which are enabling us to receive Internet content and communicate online. However, isn't the government also using our computers, either those of private citizens and public or private organizations, to enable data traveling in packets to hop to other computers so as to create an efficient network for sharing data? I mean,

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