Congress Is Going to Tax Email Messages-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A widely distributed email warns that legislation has been introduced in congress to add a surcharge to email. Congressional “Bill 602P” would add a 5 cents per email tax in order to make up for millions of dollars being lost by the Postal Service because of people using email to correspond instead of letters. The email makes reference to a recent publicity campaign by the Postal Service called “There is Nothing Like a Letter” and includes a quote from Congressman Tony Schnell. It urges that Internet users contact their representatives in congress to oppose the bill.
The Truth:
TruthOrFiction.com has designated this as not just a rumor, but a hoax, an intentional email of misinformation. Since it isn’t benefiting or harming anyone in particular, it is probably a prank. According to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Postal Service, no such proposal has been planned or submitted. There has never been a campaign by the Postal Service with the theme, “There’s Nothing Like a Letter.” According to the House Of Representatives, there is a bill with the number “HR 602,” but it has nothing to do with taxing emails. It is about long term health care insurance. Most notably, the Congressman mentioned in the email, Congressman Tony Schnell, is a fabrication. There is no such person in Congress. This appears to be a U.S. version of a similar hoax in Canada in 1999.
This is a cousin to a similar eRumor that the Federal Communications Commission is going to issue a tax on Internet Access, which is also untrue.
For more information:
United States Postal Service