Question of the Week: Due 5/8/2009

[The Question of the Week is due on Friday, 5/8/2009 by 5:00 PM. It should be at least 250 words in length. Include two research links that lend support to your answer. ]

Background: Various world governments have been considering taxing the Internet in different ways. For example, the BBC in Britain is considering a tax on Google advertising. In the USA, Internet access taxation has been banned by Congress until 2014. Some have suggested that levying a fraction of a cent tax on each sent email will stop spam.

BBS article: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/10/internet-access-tax-moratorium-extended-another-seven-years.ars

Congress on Internet access tax: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/10/internet-access-tax-moratorium-extended-another-seven-years.ars and http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/01/internet_tax_ban_extended/

Charge for sending email to stop spam: http://news.cnet.com/Paying-for-e-mail-An-idea-whose-time-has-come/2010-1028_3-5154136.html?tag=txt


Question(s): Do you think Internet access and email should be "taxed"? We tax motorists for licensing cars and levy a charge for water, garbage, and other household utilities. Why should (or shouldn't) we charge for being able to use the Internet? Is Internet access a right or a privlege (like driving or having a car)? Be sure to include two links to justify your argument.