August 11, 2004
Palace clears up text tax confusion
The Philippine Presidential Palace on Wednesday clarified that its proposal to tax the “windfall profits” of telecommunication firms is not the same as taxing text messaging, reports The Manilla Times.
"The confusion has triggered a call from text-messaging groups for texters to oppose the proposal to tax the windfall profits of telecom firms.
The President's deputy spokesman, Ricardo Saludo, explained that what the government proposes to tax is the difference between the amount the telecom company charges per minute of cellular-phone calls and the actual length of call in seconds by the user.
A barrage of text messages and e-mail condemning the tax proposal swamped Speaker Jose de Venecia, prompting him to announce that he was opposed to taxing text messaging."
Related articles:
-- 'Text tax' sparks cyber-protest in Philippines
-- Philippine gov't revives plan to tax text messaging
-- President Arroyo open to text tax
-- Philippine Senators to oppose texting tax
-- Have mercy on the people!" said the archbishop
-- Philippine leader backs away from SMS tax after popular criticism
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