Tech groups are rallying to support passage of legislation to ban federal, state, and local governments from both taxing Internet access charges and assessing multiple taxes on eCommerce.

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.

These groups are TechAmerica, 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.