Satellite TV sues to end taxes

Satellite television providers say the taxes that seven states levy on their services are unfair. So they're heading to court.

While they might still snipe at each other in commercials, DirecTV and Dish Network have joined forces in a lawsuit they've filed against Massachusetts.

The
two companies contend the 5 percent tax on satellite services they pay in the Bay State is discriminatory because it applies to them
and not rival cable TV operators.

Cable TV operators pay franchise fees to municipalities because they need access to public property to lay cable lines. The satellite TV companies say they should be exempt from any such tax because they
don't "tear up roads" in getting their programming to customers.

The filing in the Massachusetts state court is just the latest legal action undertaken by satellite TV companies.

A federal bill, H.R. 1019, also is pending in Congress.

The State Video Tax Fairness Act would prohibit any state
from imposing a discriminatory tax on any "means of providing
multichannel video programming distribution services."

As for the term discriminatory tax, the legislation defines it as one where the net tax imposed on one program provider is higher than what is assessed another.

My favorite part of the lawsuit is the reported statement that the tax on satellite television services prompts some subscribers to switch to cable.

Really? Judging from all the complaining I hear about cable systems, these must be ginormous taxes.

Related posts:

• Money hungry states, cities tax trolling
• Tax-free washers and weapons
• State tax collections nosedive

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