Taxation and Expansion

Is it time to institute taxes, which are part of virtually everything here in the real world, in cyberspace? By the time this issue comes to print, that question will be decided — at least for now. That’s because the Internet Tax Freedom Act is set to expire this month. 

The act prevents states from taxing Internet connections and from double-taxing services or products purchased over the Web. Since its passage in 1998, this regulation twice has been renewed. 

At press time, chances of the moratorium being extended again looked very good. By the end of May, four bills addressing Internet taxation were pending as House and Senate committees wrapped up hearings on the matter. And important politicians on both the Democratic and Republican sides voiced their support for extending the tax ban, which proponents say will promote investment in broadband networks and services. 

However, some economists and state tax commissions say states are losing millions of dollars annually as a result of the tax ban. 

So, while some sort of tax moratorium seems imminent, it will probably only be temporary. And that’s probably best, considering the ever-changing status of technology, broadband penetration and online business requires the industry and politicians to continue to analyze the best way to move networking and business forward. 

I also wanted to use this space to note that xchange’s parent company, Virgo Publishing LLC, earlier this fall announced it has acquired the Billing & OSS World trade show and conference and Billing World and OSS Today Magazine from TeleStrategies Inc., and to welcome Ed Finegold to the Virgo family. 

Virgo Publishing produces nine trade shows and conferences, 16 business-to-business magazines as well as online products and services. Virgo Publishing’s Telecom Division publishes PHONE+ and xchange magazines and is the producer of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. The company has a track record of success in the telecom industry. PHONE+ marked its 20th anniversary in 2007, and xchange and the Channel Partners Expo each are more than 10 years old. 

The Billing & OSS World trade show will celebrate its 16th year in 2008 and is the premier conference and exposition program focusing on the business and operations support systems requirements for next-generation communications networks. More than 1,000 industry professionals are expected to attend the 2008 event, to be held April 29 to May 1, 2008, at the Hyatt McCormick Place in Chicago. 

Billing World and OSS Today Magazine, established in 1995, is published six times a year and is a primary source for coverage and analysis of the telecommunications BSS/OSS sector, including billing, customer management, OSS, IMS, taxation, revenue assurance and cost management. 

Virgo Publishing will take over the properties with the November/December issue of Billing World and OSS Today Magazine, and the spring 2008 Billing & OSS World event. 

Dr. Matthew Lucas, CFO for TeleStrategies, will remain involved through the 2008 trade show to ensure a smooth transition and handoff. Ed Finegold, editor in chief of Billing World and OSS Today Magazine, will be joining the Virgo Publishing editorial team and will remain editor of the publication. 

We’re excited about the new synergies this marriage will enable.

Until next time,

Paula Bernier
Editor in Chief

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines