Reckless and misguided laws, often originating at the state level, threaten to undermine the foundation of the free and open Internet. Some of the most serious threats to the Internet come in the form of lawmakers trying to 'fix' it.

Knee-jerk, overly prescriptive laws can destroy whole business models or stifle innovative new forms of communication before they have a chance to emerge. Too many laws are proposed without considering unintended harm they may cause to thousands of Internet companies and millions of Internet users.

NetChoice is dedicated to fighting these attacks on core Internet principles. Through this site, the Internet Advocates' Watchlist For Ugly Laws (iAWFUL) will track dangerous legislation and mobilize citizens to defeat bills and proposals that threaten the future of ecommerce and online communication. The list will be continually updated to reflect the most immediate dangers, based on regulatory severity and likelihood of passage.

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I-AWFUL (Internet Advocates' Watchlist for Ugly Laws) is a NetChoice Initiative Dedicated to Tracking the Worst Internet Laws in America

Hotel Taxes on Online Travel Companies

What's AWFUL? Travel sites are being threatened with the wrong tax rate in the wrong jurisdiction.

Local governments want to levy their double-digit tax hotel occupancy taxes on service fees charged by online travel websites. Local governments want to levy their hotel occupancy taxes on service fees charged by online travel websites. New York City recently passed an ordinance to impose its 20% tax on these fees, a move that’s opposed by over 100 NYC hotels and by the American Society of Travel Agents.

The state of Florida also considered bills to tax service fees as hotel rentals. This is the wrong approach. Service fees should not be taxed the same as a hotel room charge. If these service fees were to be taxed at all, they would be taxed as a service rendered to the traveler booking the room -- a new tax that would have to be levied by the jurisdiction where the traveler resides.

For More Information:

Discount Hotel Rooms a Great Deal for You But a Disappointment for Tax Collectors

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