Rep. Goodlatte Keen On Hi-Tech And Internet Issues

Telecom Policy Report, Oct 29, 2003

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is not a member of the House Commerce Committee, which, of course, means he does not sit on the telecommunications subcommittee. But make no mistake: Goodlatte is seen by the telecom industry as a lawmaker of significant importance. That's because he sits on the House Judiciary Committee, the panel that frequently weighs in on policy issues destined for implementation by the FCC.

Goodlatte, who last month celebrated his 51st birthday, is a high-tech junkie, according to those close to the Virginia Republican. Likewise, he is a major proponent of the Internet and broadband technology.

Goodlatte spokesperson Elyse Bauer told TPR that earlier this month, the congressman and Rep. Rick Boucher, (D-Va.) introduced legislation aimed at clarifying the confusion surrounding when a state can levy business activity taxes on out-of-state businesses - particularly in those businesses that frequently use the Internet as a sales and marketing tool.

Over the past several years, a growing number of states have sought to collect business activity taxes from businesses in other states. The problem is that different states use different standards for determining what constitutes sufficient contacts with a state to justify taxation. As a result, businesses have shied away from expanding their presence in other states for fear of exposure to further taxation.

As Goodlatte explains it, the legislation he and Boucher sponsored sets specific guidelines for when an out-of-state business may be charged a tax for doing business in a state. "Just because a Web site can be accessed by consumers in a certain state, doesn't mean that state should be able to collect taxes from the Web site owner. This legislation focuses on allowing the Internet and the commerce that it facilitates to expand, by eliminating excessive taxes that harm on-line growth.

Earlier last week, Goodlatte was part of a bipartisan group of leading House and Senate lawmakers that launched the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus, a group dedicated to working with America's international trade partners to secure enactment of strong copyright laws as wells as vigilant enforcement of those laws. Goodlatte was named one of the congressional cochairs of the Caucus. The other co-chairs include Sens, Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), and Joe Biden (D-Del.), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

The Caucus, Bauer said, will support congressional efforts to deal with the problem of piracy and Administration efforts to obtain strong intellectual property protections in the context of international trade agreements. Among its functions, the Caucus will provide briefings for congressional delegations traveling to countries with significant piracy problems; staff and member briefings and forums on international intellectual property protection and piracy; demonstrations of new technologies and products designed to improve consumers' entertainment experiences.

Telecom Services & Equipment PAC Donations To Goodlatte, 2001-2002
Telecom Services & Equipment          $10,500
AT&T Wireless Services                $500
Cable & Wireless USA                  $1,000
Cellular Telecom & Internet Assn      $2,000
Cingular Wireless                     $1,000
Echostar Communications               $3,000
Qwest Communications                  $2,000
Satellite Broadcasting & Commun Assn  $1,000
SES Americom                          $500
Verizon Wireless                      $500
Numbers are based on data released by the FEC on Monday, June 9, 2003.

Telco PAC Donations To Goodlatte, 2001-2002
Telephone Utilities     $18,950
BellSouth Corp          $6,000
SBC Communications      $6,000
US Telecom Assn         $2,950
Verizon Communications  $4,000
Numbers are based on data released by the FEC on Monday, June 9, 2003

YTD Communications/ Electronics PAC Donations To Goodlatte For 2003-2004
Communic/Electronics           $24,000
Printing & Publishing          $2,500
TV/Movies/Music                $12,000
Utilities                      $5,500
Telecom Services & Equipment   $2,000
Electronics Mfg & Services     $1,000
Computers/Internet             $1,000
Numbers are based on data released by the FEC on Monday, Sept. 22, 2003.

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