WebProNews

The House today voted 405-2 to extend the ban on Internet access taxes for another four years. The existing ban on Internet access taxes is due to expire on November 1.

"This bill is pro consumer, pro innovation and pro technology," said Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., according to the AP. He is also one of the bills sponsors.

Rep.Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said a permanent ban would allow businesses to keep investing in the Internet and provide access that is affordable to users. He said by limiting the House to consideration of a temporary extension, Democratic leaders "want to leave the door open to taxing the Internet in the future."

Watt said there was a good reason for extending the ban and not making it permanent. "The Senate has not done anything yet and in many ways has made it clear that a permanent moratorium would be dead on arrival," Watt said. He went on to say that insisting on passing a permanent ban, "runs the risk that time will run out before the month ends and the moratorium will run out before the month ends."

The bill HR 3678 will now go to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Is expected to pick up the house passed measure for a speedy Senate vote.