eBay Fears Internet Access Taxes

 Associated Press

 An eBay executive warned Wednesday that fewer small businesses would sell products through the Web auctioneer, and elsewhere online, without a permanent ban on Internet access taxes.

Congress first imposed a moratorium on taxing Internet access — which bars state and local governments from taxing the connection to basic Internet content — in 1998. Since then, it has been twice extended, but is set to expire Nov. 1.

Congress is considering legislation that would extend the moratorium for several years or ban it permanently.

While Brian Bieron, eBay Inc.’s senior director of federal government relations, did not directly say the company would suffer without the ban, he said the effect would be far reaching.